Don? Don?
It appears RevMod Don has been hiatusizing for some time, so feel free to join me for all-new episodes of the bear604 Show. This weeks topics include:
Budget 2007: Bust Place on Earth?
Oscar? Who's Oscar?
Vancouver's train to nowhere vs. Seattle's highway in the sky
BC's new energy source: Liberal bullsh*t
The first hundred visitors will receive free admission onboard Walnut Boat. Too groovy to miss.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
Eenie, meenie, miney, no.
The government is mailing ballots to begin the process of destroying the Canadian Wheat Board. Fortunately, in their effort to be tricky about it, they may have undone themselves. Or is the point to lose the vote, thereby ridding themselves of another troublesome policy plank? That strategy worked for gay marriage, after all.
The vote, which is a plebiscite (and therefore non-binding), gives farmers three possible recommendations for the future of CWB's role in the barley business. Farmers can elect to keep everything as is, to shut down the CWB's barley business altogether, or to have the CWB continue to operate, but in an open, non-monopsonous, non-monopolous market.
Any farmer who knows anything about their own business knows that the second and third choices are actually the same choice - in an open market, the CWB is castrated into uselessness. The only lever it has is the lever of being the only buyer and seller of Canadian barley. How big an advantage does this situation give Canadian farmers? Big enough that Americans appeal the CWB's existence under NAFTA. Big enough that Canadian farms are able to survive in the face of huge American subsidies (albeit overwhelmingly on corn, but the farmers are the same, even if the crop is not).
Why do I think the Tories might be trying to intentionally lose this one? There was a time when there were two parties on the right in this country, and neither of them fared so well. When you give people two choices that are too similar, that's called vote-splitting. No one knows this better than the Tories. In the meantime, although there's a vocal group who think otherwise, farmers aren't going to ruin a good thing. The open-market thing looks tempting, it might appeal to a sense of fairness, but in the end, farmers know which side their bread is buttered on. They know how the butter got there in the first place. They know who made the bread. They aren't going to screw themselves for the sake of some Fraser Institute free-market experiment.
The government is mailing ballots to begin the process of destroying the Canadian Wheat Board. Fortunately, in their effort to be tricky about it, they may have undone themselves. Or is the point to lose the vote, thereby ridding themselves of another troublesome policy plank? That strategy worked for gay marriage, after all.
The vote, which is a plebiscite (and therefore non-binding), gives farmers three possible recommendations for the future of CWB's role in the barley business. Farmers can elect to keep everything as is, to shut down the CWB's barley business altogether, or to have the CWB continue to operate, but in an open, non-monopsonous, non-monopolous market.
Any farmer who knows anything about their own business knows that the second and third choices are actually the same choice - in an open market, the CWB is castrated into uselessness. The only lever it has is the lever of being the only buyer and seller of Canadian barley. How big an advantage does this situation give Canadian farmers? Big enough that Americans appeal the CWB's existence under NAFTA. Big enough that Canadian farms are able to survive in the face of huge American subsidies (albeit overwhelmingly on corn, but the farmers are the same, even if the crop is not).
Why do I think the Tories might be trying to intentionally lose this one? There was a time when there were two parties on the right in this country, and neither of them fared so well. When you give people two choices that are too similar, that's called vote-splitting. No one knows this better than the Tories. In the meantime, although there's a vocal group who think otherwise, farmers aren't going to ruin a good thing. The open-market thing looks tempting, it might appeal to a sense of fairness, but in the end, farmers know which side their bread is buttered on. They know how the butter got there in the first place. They know who made the bread. They aren't going to screw themselves for the sake of some Fraser Institute free-market experiment.
Is it April 1st already?
It may be remembered as one of the greatest internet hoaxes since I sent that guy some money to help get him out of a Spanish Prison. This hoax, however, costs nothing but your time and eventually some self-esteem.
What is it? Why, it's Google TV! And despite my warning that this is just a little joke at our expense, some of you will watch the video and then try it out. I know - I did. It's detailed, it's plausible, and it's attractive. Let this be a lesson to anyone who thinks they can't be conned.
It may be remembered as one of the greatest internet hoaxes since I sent that guy some money to help get him out of a Spanish Prison. This hoax, however, costs nothing but your time and eventually some self-esteem.
What is it? Why, it's Google TV! And despite my warning that this is just a little joke at our expense, some of you will watch the video and then try it out. I know - I did. It's detailed, it's plausible, and it's attractive. Let this be a lesson to anyone who thinks they can't be conned.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Gosh, I wish it wouldn't suck
The CBC is promoting the hell out of Little Mosque on the Prairie, claiming worldwide media attention, and certainly it's been recieving more than most of the CBC's sitcom clunkers over the years (that is to say, a little). They may be overselling the point, however, since they claim attention from Stephen Colbert, while the No Fact Zone, a regular watcher and documenter of Colbert, can't recall ever seeing anything about it (see near the bottom of the linked page). Perhaps Colbert's attention was attracted, until he realized that there's nothing more likely to encourage death to comedy than an earnest CBC sitcom, unless it's the Air Farce.
(Yes, I know, they've reanimated the corpse of the Air Farce with the sacrifice of some young new talent. But slightly better celebrity impersonations doesn't improve the writing one whit.)
It's generally true that Canadian sitcoms through the years, with a few notable exceptions (Corner Gas, Twitch City, The Newsroom) are just very, very bad. There's a simple rule that's served me well - the opposite of "funny" isn't "dull" - it's "earnest". Canadian sitcoms sure do like to try for "earnest".
So here's a tip for Zarqa Nawaz, as she's writing more episodes of the series: instead of worrying if Colbert is paying attention to you, pay attention to him. When you have a choice between making a point and going for the joke, go for the joke. Pay attention as well to Jon Stewart, who wisely moved the Daily Show away from mocking the stupid but powerless. Don't make characters, even those that show up only briefly, into gleefully rednecked straw dogs in order that you can poke fun at them - as Krusty once explained to a hopeful Sideshow Cecil, the pie-in-the-face gag only works if the sap's got dignity.
Please, please don't suck.
The CBC is promoting the hell out of Little Mosque on the Prairie, claiming worldwide media attention, and certainly it's been recieving more than most of the CBC's sitcom clunkers over the years (that is to say, a little). They may be overselling the point, however, since they claim attention from Stephen Colbert, while the No Fact Zone, a regular watcher and documenter of Colbert, can't recall ever seeing anything about it (see near the bottom of the linked page). Perhaps Colbert's attention was attracted, until he realized that there's nothing more likely to encourage death to comedy than an earnest CBC sitcom, unless it's the Air Farce.
(Yes, I know, they've reanimated the corpse of the Air Farce with the sacrifice of some young new talent. But slightly better celebrity impersonations doesn't improve the writing one whit.)
It's generally true that Canadian sitcoms through the years, with a few notable exceptions (Corner Gas, Twitch City, The Newsroom) are just very, very bad. There's a simple rule that's served me well - the opposite of "funny" isn't "dull" - it's "earnest". Canadian sitcoms sure do like to try for "earnest".
So here's a tip for Zarqa Nawaz, as she's writing more episodes of the series: instead of worrying if Colbert is paying attention to you, pay attention to him. When you have a choice between making a point and going for the joke, go for the joke. Pay attention as well to Jon Stewart, who wisely moved the Daily Show away from mocking the stupid but powerless. Don't make characters, even those that show up only briefly, into gleefully rednecked straw dogs in order that you can poke fun at them - as Krusty once explained to a hopeful Sideshow Cecil, the pie-in-the-face gag only works if the sap's got dignity.
Please, please don't suck.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
RevMod Year in Review
It started with an election, and ended with a hanging that I believe brought an end to the threat of terrorism, or something (Osama who? Whaaaaa?) - I was still too fat and lazy and marginally hungover from Christmas to figure out the details, so I skipped blogging that last one. Check the archives. Seriously - I keep them there for a reason. Damn lazy readers.
Instead, let me point out my newest distraction: Kevin Baker, freelancer (I'm guessing) often published in the Journal and Post, is Running to Ruin. I found him in a Google search for "The Legend of the Chevy Farm" (don't ask why), with an article about returning as a listener to CBC radio after the strike in 2005, his tastes forever changed by his months listening to commercial radio.
Bottom line, anyone who is that consistantly sharp and funny, and has as his very top link The Great Eastern web archive is a winner in my book.
It started with an election, and ended with a hanging that I believe brought an end to the threat of terrorism, or something (Osama who? Whaaaaa?) - I was still too fat and lazy and marginally hungover from Christmas to figure out the details, so I skipped blogging that last one. Check the archives. Seriously - I keep them there for a reason. Damn lazy readers.
Instead, let me point out my newest distraction: Kevin Baker, freelancer (I'm guessing) often published in the Journal and Post, is Running to Ruin. I found him in a Google search for "The Legend of the Chevy Farm" (don't ask why), with an article about returning as a listener to CBC radio after the strike in 2005, his tastes forever changed by his months listening to commercial radio.
Bottom line, anyone who is that consistantly sharp and funny, and has as his very top link The Great Eastern web archive is a winner in my book.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Lessons from the past
George Bush, yesterday:
George Bush, yesterday:
That sounds to me like a pretty good want ad for 2008.[President Ford] assumed power in a period of great division and turmoil. For a nation that needed healing and for an office that needed a calm and steady hand, Gerald Ford came along when we needed him most.
During his time in office, the American people came to know President Ford as a man of complete integrity who led our country with common sense and kind instincts.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Reading the tea leaves
Calgary Grit anticipates a small shuffle that's going to get Rona Ambrose out of the Environment portfolio, to be replaced by Jim Prentice. Although I strongly suspect the Clean Air Act proposed in October and widely reviled shortly thereafter was not so much Rona's proposal as it was Rona and the department's details painted onto some Harper/Tory guidelines, she's the lucky Ayn Rand fan who gets to eat it, and that's okay by me.
If Jim Prentice in fact ends up with the position, is that a signal that like the Liberals at their leadership, the Tories are ready to step forward and take the environment seriously in deed as well as in word? There's been a whole lot of ink given over to writing elegies for the NDP in the wake of Dion's win (though the typists like to pretend the Green party is an influence as well, to which I dismissively say, "yeah, right"). Will a serious environmental effort from the Tories add nails to the coffin?
Calgary Grit anticipates a small shuffle that's going to get Rona Ambrose out of the Environment portfolio, to be replaced by Jim Prentice. Although I strongly suspect the Clean Air Act proposed in October and widely reviled shortly thereafter was not so much Rona's proposal as it was Rona and the department's details painted onto some Harper/Tory guidelines, she's the lucky Ayn Rand fan who gets to eat it, and that's okay by me.
If Jim Prentice in fact ends up with the position, is that a signal that like the Liberals at their leadership, the Tories are ready to step forward and take the environment seriously in deed as well as in word? There's been a whole lot of ink given over to writing elegies for the NDP in the wake of Dion's win (though the typists like to pretend the Green party is an influence as well, to which I dismissively say, "yeah, right"). Will a serious environmental effort from the Tories add nails to the coffin?
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Socks are okay, too
Bear604 has some last minute gift ideas.
As for me, I spent a portion of last night in West Edmonton Mall, a place I generally avoid. You know that shortage of workers they have in Alberta these days? Good news when one is negotiating for more Christmas spending money. Bad news when one is attempting to spend it. I'm with Bear about skipping the gift cards, but I can't recommend the big malls or big box stores, either. Is it too late to celebrate the new, Ukranian-ruled Alberta by putting off Christmas to January 7?
Bear604 has some last minute gift ideas.
As for me, I spent a portion of last night in West Edmonton Mall, a place I generally avoid. You know that shortage of workers they have in Alberta these days? Good news when one is negotiating for more Christmas spending money. Bad news when one is attempting to spend it. I'm with Bear about skipping the gift cards, but I can't recommend the big malls or big box stores, either. Is it too late to celebrate the new, Ukranian-ruled Alberta by putting off Christmas to January 7?
Monday, December 18, 2006
You're either with us, or you're with the Visitors
Dave Bouchard has been fired from the Saint John (NB) Seadogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for not signing a Canadian flag for the troops in Afghanistan. He claims it was a mistake, though perhaps he doesn't believe in the justice of this war, war in general, or the desecration of flags. Who knows or cares? He's a left wing (insert joke here), not the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Oh, well - I'm sure Don Cherry will approve.
Hit the road, hippie!
Dave Bouchard has been fired from the Saint John (NB) Seadogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for not signing a Canadian flag for the troops in Afghanistan. He claims it was a mistake, though perhaps he doesn't believe in the justice of this war, war in general, or the desecration of flags. Who knows or cares? He's a left wing (insert joke here), not the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Oh, well - I'm sure Don Cherry will approve.
Hit the road, hippie!
Friday, December 15, 2006
Now the game is afoot!
It's too early to say anything for certain, of course, but I have to say that leaving one-time Liberal Gene Zwozdesky and famously moderate Gary Mar off the front benches of the government today suggests Premier Stelmach might just be steering a course for the provincial Tories rightward.
On the other hand, politically, Ted Morton had to get a cabinet post, and perhaps his placement in Sustainable Resource Development will render him relatively harmless, unless he decides that the best way to deal with the mountain pine beetle is with some sort of firewall.
Nonetheless, it isn't a cabinet that inspires any confidence in me.
(Also: Oberg? Finance? Talk about pulling his political life out of the fire with the quick Stelmach endorsement during the runoff week - I figured he was headed to the back bench to stay after his campaign of bizarre accusations.)
It's too early to say anything for certain, of course, but I have to say that leaving one-time Liberal Gene Zwozdesky and famously moderate Gary Mar off the front benches of the government today suggests Premier Stelmach might just be steering a course for the provincial Tories rightward.
On the other hand, politically, Ted Morton had to get a cabinet post, and perhaps his placement in Sustainable Resource Development will render him relatively harmless, unless he decides that the best way to deal with the mountain pine beetle is with some sort of firewall.
Nonetheless, it isn't a cabinet that inspires any confidence in me.
(Also: Oberg? Finance? Talk about pulling his political life out of the fire with the quick Stelmach endorsement during the runoff week - I figured he was headed to the back bench to stay after his campaign of bizarre accusations.)
Another Criminal Mastermind
Forget the much-sweated-over fake "Dumb Criminal" sketch on the Studio 60 show-within-a-show. In this marginally interesting story about police using YouTube to help them find suspects comes this paragraph:
I'm guessing they don't have any sort of entrance exam for the Robbery Guild, or Thief Union, or whatever it is.
Forget the much-sweated-over fake "Dumb Criminal" sketch on the Studio 60 show-within-a-show. In this marginally interesting story about police using YouTube to help them find suspects comes this paragraph:
Another YouTube video posted in July depicts a person trying to break into a surveillance camera store in California. The video, recorded and posted by the store's owner, allowed police to nab a suspect wanted for auto theft, burglary and bank robbery.First, how dumb to you have to be to break into a surveillance camera store undisguised? "It's the perfect plan, so long as they don't have some sort of device to capture my image." But actually, it's even less perfect than that. Who's going to buy a security device out of the trunk of a car? It's not exactly an advertisement for the effectiveness thereof, is it?
I'm guessing they don't have any sort of entrance exam for the Robbery Guild, or Thief Union, or whatever it is.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Lucky thirteen
Welcome aboard, Premier Stelmach. You've inherited a divided caucus, an economy that can't help but slow, and a party that by its own admission lacks direction.
On the bright side, you seem to be likable enough, the economic slowing that is bound to come shouldn't be along too soon (barring some radical and external force), and the federal government doesn't seem to be of a mind to constrain the provinces from doing pretty much what they want. So there's opportuinity there, too.
You have my sincere wish for all the best in governing Alberta well, right up until the next election and the surprise NDP sweep to power.
Ralph, thanks for fourteen years of public service. Enjoy your retirement - you must have some grandkids by now, right? They'll appreciate seing more of you, I'm sure.
Welcome aboard, Premier Stelmach. You've inherited a divided caucus, an economy that can't help but slow, and a party that by its own admission lacks direction.
On the bright side, you seem to be likable enough, the economic slowing that is bound to come shouldn't be along too soon (barring some radical and external force), and the federal government doesn't seem to be of a mind to constrain the provinces from doing pretty much what they want. So there's opportuinity there, too.
You have my sincere wish for all the best in governing Alberta well, right up until the next election and the surprise NDP sweep to power.
Ralph, thanks for fourteen years of public service. Enjoy your retirement - you must have some grandkids by now, right? They'll appreciate seing more of you, I'm sure.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Help me
Some pundits think the federal election will come fast, before Dion has a chance to settle in to the new job. I'm not sure I agree, but just in case, please keep your eyes open for bad Dion headshots for use in the next Gaffeometer - links or shots can be e-mailed via the address to your left.
(Note the new address - I have finally surrendered the old one to spam. Here's hoping for another spam free year before I have to move on again.)
Some pundits think the federal election will come fast, before Dion has a chance to settle in to the new job. I'm not sure I agree, but just in case, please keep your eyes open for bad Dion headshots for use in the next Gaffeometer - links or shots can be e-mailed via the address to your left.
(Note the new address - I have finally surrendered the old one to spam. Here's hoping for another spam free year before I have to move on again.)
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Bedtime, and still no Premier
But it seems pretty damn close. After the second, week-delayed ballot, Stelmach has a marginal lead, but people who picked Morton first aren't headed to Dinning. Ballot number three is going to go to Stelmach huge.
I won't, however, change my prediction about his future. He has nearly zero charisma. Judging from the debate, policy is a little thin as well. I heard one cabinet minister suggest they were going to wait at least a year for an election, without saying "to give this guy a little seasoning." But I get the feeling Mr. Stelmach's going to require a whole spice rack.
I'm sure we'll hear more tomorrow. Sleep well, Alberta - not sure what kind of Alberta you'll be waking up to. Does anyone know?
But it seems pretty damn close. After the second, week-delayed ballot, Stelmach has a marginal lead, but people who picked Morton first aren't headed to Dinning. Ballot number three is going to go to Stelmach huge.
I won't, however, change my prediction about his future. He has nearly zero charisma. Judging from the debate, policy is a little thin as well. I heard one cabinet minister suggest they were going to wait at least a year for an election, without saying "to give this guy a little seasoning." But I get the feeling Mr. Stelmach's going to require a whole spice rack.
I'm sure we'll hear more tomorrow. Sleep well, Alberta - not sure what kind of Alberta you'll be waking up to. Does anyone know?
Saturday, December 02, 2006
And on a completely different sort of broadcast
Sadly, the best broadcast of the evening election for Premier of Alberta seems to be CTV's two minutes per fifteen. Stelmach is running second behind Dinning, and CTV seems to believe that this spells trouble for Dinning. Alternatively, if Morton can get to second, Dinning should win.
Dinning - 30100, Stelmach - 25500, Morton - 21800.
But the big loser is me, who has to put up with Whistler during the other 48 minutes this hour. I don't watch a ton of television, so I had no idea what a sad excuse for programming it is. Also, the women on it need a ham sandwich, stat - I think they might actually be starving. But at least part of my point is, after the Newsworld examination of all of the minutae of the Liberal convention, this seems a disappointing degree of coverage. I need my fix!
Sadly, the best broadcast of the evening election for Premier of Alberta seems to be CTV's two minutes per fifteen. Stelmach is running second behind Dinning, and CTV seems to believe that this spells trouble for Dinning. Alternatively, if Morton can get to second, Dinning should win.
Dinning - 30100, Stelmach - 25500, Morton - 21800.
But the big loser is me, who has to put up with Whistler during the other 48 minutes this hour. I don't watch a ton of television, so I had no idea what a sad excuse for programming it is. Also, the women on it need a ham sandwich, stat - I think they might actually be starving. But at least part of my point is, after the Newsworld examination of all of the minutae of the Liberal convention, this seems a disappointing degree of coverage. I need my fix!
Political crack cocaine
Anyone who, like me, grooves on the politics is enjoying a big day today - a Premier and a federal leader of the opposition all at once!
I write this two ballots into the Liberal convention, and Warren Kinsella has picked it for Dion. I begin to think he's right, despite yesterday's prediction.
Anyone who, like me, grooves on the politics is enjoying a big day today - a Premier and a federal leader of the opposition all at once!
I write this two ballots into the Liberal convention, and Warren Kinsella has picked it for Dion. I begin to think he's right, despite yesterday's prediction.
Friday, December 01, 2006
The end of one member one vote leadership contests?
Two signs that one member, one vote leadership elections might finally start being seen for the folly it is:
The Liberals have voted to reject it.
People in Alberta are treating the Tory leadership vote like a general election with a cover charge. Liberals are apparently buying memberships and voting with wild abandon for Dinning (though Wild Abandon voted for Morton in an advance poll). Will Tories be satisfied with the final result? Even Klein was elected leader with one member, one vote pro-rated by constituency. That's got to be an improvement, since that's how you eventually have to get your guy made Premier - one constituency, one vote.
Two signs that one member, one vote leadership elections might finally start being seen for the folly it is:
The Liberals have voted to reject it.
People in Alberta are treating the Tory leadership vote like a general election with a cover charge. Liberals are apparently buying memberships and voting with wild abandon for Dinning (though Wild Abandon voted for Morton in an advance poll). Will Tories be satisfied with the final result? Even Klein was elected leader with one member, one vote pro-rated by constituency. That's got to be an improvement, since that's how you eventually have to get your guy made Premier - one constituency, one vote.
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