Blog Break for the Rest of the Week…Back Monday June 11th.
I’m extremely sorry to do this but I will not be blogging for the rest of the week. Comments are most welcome as I will be looking for them. And you can feel free to recommend topics.
It’s my birthday today, and I planned on having a relaxing dinner with my family and then posting the John vanDongen piece I promised you yesterday.
But the events this afternoon at my son’s school–my school, are most disturbing and have put a bit of a damper on things–a significant damper on things.
I’ve also been carrying around a fair bit of pain for the last many weeks after the death of my friend Tom Galimberti and I haven’t dealt with it properly–not at all. Tom was a daily part of what I did here and if you admire my work, then please understand it is not unlike losing your trainer or coach and having to fight alone.
We spoke almost every day and the void has been just too much–as much as I’ve tried to put a brave face on it.
Plus, I have some other pressing personal matters to deal with (all good, thankfully).
I’ve never once offered you anything less than my best–well, almost every time. And I won’t change that.
I don’t like to do throw aways, and I won’t compromise quality when I’m not ‘on’.
I just need a break. I should have taken one a few weeks ago when Tom died, and dealt with matters properly, but I didn’t.
Now, this horrific thing at St. George’s today, and on my birthday no less, just has me feeling extremely out of sorts. I’m sure I’ll be fine and I appreciate the very kind notes from many of you today particularly after the events of this afternoon. My son is fine and isn’t shaken too badly. Thank you for your concern.
I think I’m more shaken than he is. What a nightmare. Know that I will not be commenting on the matter, as there is an active police investigation and I have FULL confidence in the Vancouver Police Department, regardless of my criticism of their Chief (who threw yet another member under the bus this last week).
Anyway…
Perhaps I’m trying to hang on too tight, I don’t know. I love being here with you, but for my heart to be in it, my brain needs to be clear.
You can’t write properly without both; you can’t call yourself a writer without significant synchronicity between the two. And, as the Hitch used to say, a writer is more who I am than what I do.
So, I’m going to tend to that for the next several days and simply ask that you forgive me for not being available. I’ll be back–you can be sure of that. The healthcare piece can wait as can the vanDongen piece. And I’m working on some other blockbusters that will show you how the ‘Basi-Virk’ matter will become the story of the year.
Very soon.
Perhaps the extra time will help. We’ll see.
Again, I sincerely apologize, but I’m going to be off til next Monday.
Enjoy the rest of the week and be good to one another.
God bless you and yours.
Be well.
Romans 8:38-39
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God…..”
Rest Alex.
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I heard this on a PBS show.
” Everything will be allright at the end.
If it is not allright, then it is not the end.”
Enjoy your birthday and many more.
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Take care, Alex.
Sometimes the stars seemed lined up in order to torment us.
But these things, too, shall pass.
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Allow me to pinch hit kind sir!
http://politicalinsider.ca/you-should-have-kept-the-1-mr-sheppard/
All the best Alex,
Jeff
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Alex,
I hope your mini-break allows you some family time and an opportunity to recharge the batteries.
Further to your invitation to recommend topics, I supply the following quote from MLA Bob Simpson in today’s Globe and Mail regarding his position on the imbalance of timber supply as a result of the pine beetle infestation:
“I said, look, I would love to be elected as an independent. I would like to put my name forward to be an alternative to the party systems at the ballot box and be successful doing that. But if I have to do that in a way where I moderate what I say because I’m worried about winning or losing that election, then what’s the point? There is no point.”
I think there are at least three stories here:
1. Sensationalist reporting by saying that timber supply will drop to one quarter of present. Nowhere do they say that harvest volumes have been significantly raised to salvage dead timber and that the reduction will not be nearly as large when compared to long term sustainable harvest rates from before the infestation.
2. That a principled MLA chooses to speak truth rather than the weasel words that might help his chances for re-election.
3. And the sorry state of politics here in BC and many other places that make it very difficult for an Independent to get elected.
Running a little over length here. No need to publish this but I just wanted to plant these seeds in that fertile mind of yours. You asked…..
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No problem at all.
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Take as long as you want, Alex. If anyone deserves rest, it is you.
Off topic, but this government’s forest policies really need to be put under the microscope. The collapse of the mid-term timber supply should be BIG news.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/as-trees-fell-in-the-woods-this-bc-mla-was-there-to-hear-it/article4237609/
It wasn’t that long ago that forestry and forest management policy was big news in British Columbia. Now you’re lucky to see any forestry stories on the evening news at all. The BC Liberal government is looking at doing away with riparian buffers, wildlife corridors, old growth reserves and even provincial park boundaries, to free up more timber for sawmills.
Not that I would expect anything different from the NDP; they would probably subsidize mills to stay open with no timber to mill, to keep the union membership working.
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Thanks for this. Noted.
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I read the news today, oh boy! Strange days indeed.
But Happy Birthday anyway, young man.
A couple of cold ones will be hoisted in your name.
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Thanks!
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I too hoisted a cold one in your name…. sorry it was Pilsner with the bunnies on the can. It was all that was in the fridge.
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Well another day, I wonder what the Wicked Witch of the West coast has planned for the day, tell a few fables, plan the liquidation of more assets, listen to the police scanner and be there, at a tragedy in time for the camera’s to arrive
Or perhaps just sharpening her nails.
Or maybe she is practicing the ever so colorful language she uses to refer to you Alex…….;-)
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She may refer to me any way she likes. Starting in the fall, she’d better be prepared to see a lot more of me. And if she doesn’t behave it will cost her.
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Latest poll. Popularity of Canadian Premiers and Opposition leaders. Dix adds to his gains.
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/45141/wall-best-dexter-worst-as-canadians-rate-their-premiers/
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Yes, I saw it. No surprise at all.
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Hate to keep bothering you, Alex, but I really would like to hear your analysis of the approval given to Jumbo Resort. At the moment there is no one there yet the govt. is ready to recognize it as a resort municipality so decisions regarding it can be made by…… Who the hell knows? No voters, no council, no one there, but it gets status as though it were a fully functuioning entity. Who is Oberto Oberti anyway? And what pull does he have with this government?
Your take????
I enjoy reading your material.
Robin Wass
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Happy to give you a detailed analysis next week.
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Dear Snook-C
“Stop yer messin’ around….
Better think of our future!
Time you straighten your party out….
quit creating problems in every town!
Don’t think of BC Rail…..
‘Cause you’ll wind up in jail!
….a message to you, Chris-Ty!
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Latest Approval Poll Numbers (not that they mean anything):
CC – 30%
AD – 53%
http://www.cknw.com/Channels/Reg/NewsLocal/Story.aspx?ID=1717054
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Can’t wait ti see how Sean Leslie spins this on the weekend.
It’s only going to get worse for all of them. Trust me.
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Not just Leslie, but also Jim Shepherd and his band of “Concerned Citizens”
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Well from what I have seen and heard this morning I think that her supporters are going to use the “victim” card.
On one hand she want’s equality, while it suits her..
But when she is clearly seen for her own stupidity the smoke screen quickly becomes.. I’m a victim, once again creating a situation where she makes women look weak and stupid… grrrrrrrrr.
You would never hear those words from Dianne Watts, Carole Taylor or other equally strong secure women politicians with class, integrity and some dignity.
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Unfair+play+problem+Christy+Clark+tarnished+Liberal+brand/6741559/story.html
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Alex,
Someone should toss a net over Jim Shepherd and any who are taken it by him.
The fact that this Poll is even being reported at all (let alone as widely as it is) by the msm is a huge victory for all of us and owed entirely to you. Six months ago the only place we’d have seen this was here. Well done, sir.
Now back to your rest and don’t touch that keyboard until you’re ready. We all want you at your absolute best when you deliver the coup de grace.
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I saw the headline reading fair play – but automatically assumed because it had something to do with Christy Clark that it was meant to be fore play.
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Alex,
I hope you are feeling a little better.
Here is to today’s political Insider , pinch hitting and putting the poll results in proper context.
http://politicalinsider.ca/christy-clark-hits-new-low/
Take care!
Jeff
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Interesting Jeff, she actually did make that slam towards Angus Reid on the Global noon news today.
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FAMILIES FIRST AND JOBS FOR ALL- unless you work for a company like angus reid that reports the truth, in which case we want you unemployed.
way to support a orivate businees that employs people in BC CC.
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Angus was on McComb this afternoon between 5-530 and was not happy at CC dismissing his poll as “it’s just Angus Reid” as if it didn’t mean anything. I felt he was just stopping short of mentioning legal action, but that is just my inference. He did mention the 250 jobs in B.C, several times as well as that his poll’s results was consistent with those of other companies polling parties and leaders.
When McComb opened the lines after the news, there was the predictable parade of Libs and CC cheerleaders complaining of unfair media coverage etc. If they only knew what is said in this forum. LOL
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When Mike Smyth confronted her about the Erik Bornmann diaries I had released on this blog during the BC Liberal leadership contest, her immediate default position was to claim I had no credibility.
Now who’s got no credibility, Christy?
You dunce.
Angus Reid’s reaction isn’t surprising. He’s made a career of getting it right in a business fraught with unpredictability.
She’s made a career of being completely predictable; predictably STUPID.
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Alex
I post this only because when I read it it thought of you…somehow so much more suitable than keep your chin up
my favorite line…
(Leggett’s favorite story: her son met with Ben once for some advice, and after their long meeting was over, Ben told her son, for all of The Post’s seventh floor to hear: “Keep your pecker up.”)
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2012/06/Ben-bradlee-zingers-correspondence-barbs-post?mbid=twitter
enjoy fellow readers… and Alex hope this puts a smile on your face.. sometimes we need a step away from politics
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No apologies necessary for taking a well needed break Alex,
Just the time involved for you to update and reply to the comments here is astounding.
I enjoy reading the “comments” as much as the daily topic.
The stories you have investigated are the “Jewels in the Crown” that keep us coming back.
I was wondering when you were going to hit the wall and get burned out.
Take some time to reflect, enjoy your family, forget about this site for a while.
It will suck the life out of you trying to constantly maintain it.
Perhaps a like minded group of volunteers/assistants to “cover for you and moderate the discussion” when you need some time off.
As for the passing of your good friend Tom. It sucks.
I’ve had some great friends pass away over the last few years that were a ton of fun to talk to or to hang out with……What can you do?
Its the crappy part of growing old our parents never warned us about. There’s no way to prepare for it. It just sucks.
As as I grow older, I’ve realized ,it isnt going to get easier. My parents are in their 80′s and starting to fade mentally and physically. I try to phone and visit as often as I can because I know it wont last forever.
Friends/ co workers etc. divorce, develop diseases, are killed accidentally, move away, etc.,etc.etc…..and on and on it goes….
But life shouldnt get you down because you cant avoid it or change it.
There are bright sides to growing older.
( My personal fave is ….I’m getting closer to retiring!)
Hug your wonderful kids because to them, your perfect.
-
Kiss your beautiful wife because she gave you those wonderful kids (and she puts up with you !)
Finally, thank God that you have them to cherish.
Because THATS what its about !
NOT this Blog. ( sorry folks but I had to say it……)
And enjoy your time off.
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Good comment NCV – You aren’t suggesting are you that those who never had kids are incapable of being perfect? Course, you could be right (in a way) but then, I don’t think anyone is perfect.
On other matters, look for Vancouver city counsel to ban plastic bags, now that Toronto the Good has set the latest P.C. standards. I don’t know what is to become of bag-ladies. And now that the Big Apple has, under Bloomberg, limited the size of soft drinks that can be served in restaurants, say good-bye to that Habitant delight – poutine! And it does look like the Georgia Viaduct is coming down in order to satisfy the greed of the usual group of real estate speculators.
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To L.B.
no “perfection” suggestions at all. I dont have any kids. Just saying that most kids think their Dads are the greatest, until of course, the kids hit their teens and anyone who lays down the rules is a heartless bastard……..
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LOL, now she is trying to discredit Angus Reid???, LMAO, now I just pitty this woman, the desperation reeks worse than brut 33.
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It’s truly unbelievable that she follows one bimbo eruption with another.
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Christy Clark is the dumbest idiot on the face of the planet. Did you catch her comments on the plastic bag BS crap? Holy smokes someone please help us. The pretender sitting in the big chair is in next to last place in Premier popularity in the entire country because there is someone, presumably, who is denser yet. Are your handlers not telling you, Christy, keep your mouth shut? No they’re not because you, Miss Booblehead, are going down with the dinghy. Help, help!!
I’m sure you’re shaking your head with the rest of us, Alex.
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Yup.
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Paper vs. Plastic vs. Canvas = 100% Bullshit, Just Like Crusty!
You can ad “Gregor The Goof” to this mix too!
You can toss the “canvas bag is better” theory out the window!
The amount of pollution just from MAKING those green bags far exceeds the benefits.
The Environmental Cost of a Free Canvas Bag
When it comes to the environment, free canvas bags aren’t free
http://www.utne.com/Environment/Environmental-Cost-Free-Canvas-Bag.aspx
So, what’s better: “paper or plastic?”
You may be surprised at the answer.
Paper Vs. Plastic Bags?
http://www.angelfire.com/wi/PaperVsPlastic/
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Coleman’s latest fumble!
http://politicalinsider.ca/no-happy-days-for-richie-c/
Alex Take care. have a great weekend.
Jeff
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Colman has totally failed or this move. This is a slap in the face to the BC wine industry (who are free enterprisers), and a kick in the ass to consumers.
Coleman should be fired!
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he’s too busy trying to sell the entire Liquor Distribution Branch to be bothered with petty drivel such as self made entrepeneurs.
hmmmmm, come to think of it …..if wineries are allowed to sell via online, why would we need anyone to distribute liquor ?
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The ratings downward slide continues for CKNW. 9.4 Are they going to do something or is it a race to the bottom?
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I’ll be doing a major piece on this next week. There is much more to this than you know.
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That’s right I don’t know, that’s why I come here!
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Bright gal.
I won’t disappoint you…
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Hey Alex,
I hope you are coming around and starting to feel better.
Here is today’s early post
http://politicalinsider.ca/no-happy-days-for-richie-c/
Enjoy, get well.
Jeff
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Alex i do owe you an apology in regard of my some what ignorant comment and my harsh criticism about your opinion of the NDP . I was reading some other blogs and newspaper articles before I posted and I vented unfairly and unjustified towards you . I find myself very angry with the veracious attack from the right of all things left , I suppose It’s a symptom of Harper and the lousy leadership of the federal Conservatives. Again please accept my apology…..thank you Chris
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Apology accepted, but when you know I’m against the closing of the Kits Point Coast Guard station (I was FIRST out against its closing) and I was the only so-called ‘Conservative’ pundit to oppose the Enbridge pipeline…well…on those two alone you can’t call me a lickspittle for anyone.
Have a good weekend.
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Happy Belated Birthday, Alex. Been so busy with grading papers as we near the end of the year, I haven’t been able to be on much at all.
I hope you are feeling much better after a few days’ rest and that you refueled your tank with much needed family time.
Please be sure to take good care of yourself; we need you.
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Feel for you Alex,
Hey you heard it right, Chief (if you want to call him that) Chu did throw another member under the bus. All of the grass roots members are talking about it, we all think the entire VPD Executives are a joke. Chu, Lepard, dumb-boy Lemcke and bag licker Palmer. LePard has more girlfriends within the constable rank than you can count. He would make tiger woods proud. This guy is a serial predator within the VPD, ask any of the young police women. Chu and LePard scheme daily on how to screw the members,figuratively and literally. I know! Palmer and Lemcke have no guts to speak their minds, they are a couple of little grannys. The only thing they know is yes’em. The guys on the street are tired of these guys and their bulshit. We want something new and fresh. Morale within the VPD is lower now than under Chambers, it is really really bad. Something is going to have to change or the vpd may not survive as we know it. Hey did you hear the Chu renewed Leperd for another 4 years. The young police women are running and ducking as we speak. My better half knows from personal experience.
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Hang in there.
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another reason we need a Regional Police Force but NOT the RCMP
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What do you think of this about Wally Opal?
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Missing+women+inquiry+boss+Wally+Oppal+admits+chat+with+member+Hells/6759822/story.html
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When’s the last time someone hugged a member of the club, without knowing him, and didn’t end up in intensive care?
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