In today’s Sun: When Austin Powers is a documentary
Main author of cables in WikiLeaks release.
The “intelligence community,” clearly, is neither “intelligent” nor a “community.”
Main author of cables in WikiLeaks release.
The “intelligence community,” clearly, is neither “intelligent” nor a “community.”
I predicted on CBC’s Power and Politics, last week, that the Cons would win Vaughan, and that the Libs had an excellent candidate in Winnipeg North. Monte and Peggy laughed at me, heartily.
Meanwhile, in the Sun, I even rashly said that Julian Fantino would win “handily.”
“Handily!”
Well, I may have been right about Winnipeg on CBC, but I sure got it wrong about Vaughan in the pages of the Sun – I mean, blowing a massive lead of thousands of votes in two weeks, like the Vaughan Conservatives did, isn’t winning “handily.” It’s a huge embarrassment.
I am ecstatic, however, that old Chretien chum Kevin Lamoureux won in Winnipeg North! Great news, and a lot of fun to follow on CPAC last night. I particularly enjoyed irritating Sheila and Meredith.
Now, bon soir.
From my brother Angelo: “Praising Ford for the good campaign he ran is like congratulating the weatherman for a sunny day.”
Brilliant.
About a year ago, a Toronto Transit worker was photographed asleep. If you lived in Toronto, you couldn’t have avoided the photo, or the many stories about the incident. It even was a subject of debate in the municipal election campaign.
Now this story has appeared, occupying far less space – and being given far less prominence – than the original “napping TTC worker” demi-scandal.
Today, we learn that the man in photo is dead. He was sick, and apparently sick at the time of the photo, too. He left the job he loved, ashamed of what had happened, ashamed that he had hurt the reputation of his colleagues. He had worked for nearly three decades with an unblemished record.
Why am I drawing attention to this? Because it isn’t the exception; it’s the rule, now. Because it should make some people – a lot of people, actually – feel ashamed for how this story ended. Because, when our collective memory is determined by a Google search, and nothing is worth saying if it isn’t expressed in 140 characters, and the “news cycle” is shorter than a sound bite, and analysis is thinner than piss on a rock, this how things are going to be, from now on: someone’s life, captured in a completely unrepresentative moment, is completely destroyed. And no one gives a shit.
I’m as guilty of this techno-mob rule as anybody – maybe more so. As I know too well, as I’ve experienced many times, it takes a few seconds to put something out there in the Internet ether – but, as I told a U of T class this week, you can’t take it back. And it’ll be there forever. It’ll be there after you’re dead.
I feel sorry for what happened to this man. He deserves an apology.
But apologies are the only things that are slow in coming, these days.
UPDATE, FROM LOUISE: “I am proud to say I was related to George and had the privilege to know him and call him “friend”. We always looked forward to seeing him. He was just fun to be around and a kind and decent man. He was a true hero in his everyday life as he always put others first – he showed himself in everyday small kindnesses, not just one or two incidents of which the public has come to know. He was tremendously loved by our family and by his many friends. George was always happy and cheerful, with an open hand and heart. I’ll never forget his laugh and his bright blue twinkling eyes. I never heard George say a bad word about anyone. Wasn’t in his nature. He was a good friend, loving, kind, easy to be with and tremendously funny. A bright light has gone from our lives. He will be missed by all who had the good fortune to know him.”
Who are the Landowners? Well, one of their top guys, here, says he’s VP for Randy Hiller’s riding Frontenac-area association. He’s been investigated by the OPP for making death threats, and is notorious for his white supremacy and extremism.
We all know who he is, and what he stands for. What we don’t get, however, is why Hudak, Hiller et al. haven’t denounced someone who would write filth like this:
…she isn’t in the race, yet, but I’ve already heard from many folks – Libs, Cons, you name it – who would jump at the chance to help her. I know I certainly would offer whatever help I could, in the leadership race and beyond.
Having heavyweights (and, full disclosure, longtime friends) like Messrs. Boessenkool and Marissen at the helm would be a huge asset for a Clark leadership bid, too. Two of the smartest guys in Canadian poilitics, hands down.
***
UPDATE: The fact that she is pictured here with my friend Joey can only be a good thing, in my geriatric punk view.