Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis star in BBC Radio 4 program “The Now Show.” It is British oriented political satire but still one of my favourites. You can listen to current programs on the BBC IPlayer or download programs by podcast. This is one of the features of the weekly
Continue readingAuthor: Norman Farrell
Northern Insights / Perceptivity: Coming soon
I hope to meet a few Northern Insights readers at Thursday’s event.
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: A suggestion for North Van District voters
This weekend, most of us have opportunity to vote in municipal elections. As an informed internet reader (you wouldn’t be here otherwise), you know the importance of the day. I don’t write about local politics often but I do have one suggestion for readers who live in North Vancouver District.
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: RERUN – ‘Run of River’ – deceitful marketing term
First published February 23, 2011 Pictures From Tyson Creek, a tributary of the Tzoonie River at the head of Narrows Inlet about 20 miles from Sechelt. Learn more about this project at Sunshine Coast Conservation Association. Some of their concerns: IPP proponents are not obligated to respect Landscape Unit Plans, Old
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Central to the whole controversy
Courtesy Raeside Cartoons Vaughn Palmer writes about Attorney General Shirley Bond’s letter to Stephen Toope, “Should the government require recovery of legal fees and disbursements paid for the defence of an indemnified employee who is then convicted or pleads guilty?” asked Bond. “If so, should the policy require government to
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Delay strategy suggests Clark plans snap election
Keith Fraser at The Province is reporting the Basi/Virk audit is blocked by the Liberal Government: “Auditor-General John Doyle is heading back to court in a bid to get access to documents related to the government’s controversial $6-million legal payments in the Basi-Virk case… “Doyle claims that access to many
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: "Old news" – news anxieties
Alex Tsakumis today offers Open Letter to John Doyle, Auditor-General of British Columbia: The Information You Need On the Buying of Dave Basi and Bob Virk by the BC Liberals is Right Here. That we can read Judge Anne MacKenzie’s “Oral Reasons for Sentence” emphasizes this is theatre of the
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: REPLAY – Notice to PAB media monitors
First published here April 6, 2011 from Craigslist Toronto: Supplement your income. Part-time jobs available that suit your skills and experience. Keep an eye on craigslist for the next openings. This ad ran in Toronto but right wing commentators are needed online in every province between now and May 2.
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: REPLAY: About BC politics (Oct 24, 2010)
Vancouver Sun writers and many mainstream colleagues refuse to pose difficult questions to their BC Liberal friends, instead preferring the approach of Sergeant Schultz from Hogan’s Heroes, “I hear nothing, I see nothing, I know nothing!”
Gabriel Yu…
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Where the morally obtuse can hide
H/T to CathiefromCanada, a great read: The Brutal Truth About Penn State, Charles P. Pierce, Grantland, November 14, 2011
“There is always something a little nauseating in large spectacles of conspicuous public piety, but watching everyone on the fi…
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Retired cop blogs
Fred Pinnock retired from the RCMP in 2008 and today, with Scot Filer, another former cop, is managing partner in Lions Gate Investigations Group. Pinnock, former commander of BC’s illegal gaming enforcement team, is known for candid comments about p…
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Appeal Court found judge has right to be stupid
Court upholds Hells Angel’s acquittal, despite rude judge, Ian Mulgrew, Vancouver Sun, Apr 30, 2008
The controversial acquittal of an elite Nomad member of the Hells Angels caught with 52 kilograms of cocaine worth $1.56 million has been upheld in spit…
Northern Insights / Perceptivity: J. Leask: Questions of perspicacity and impartiality
Two Hells Angels called ‘pawns of police’ get short sentences for drug trafficking, Neal Hall, Vancouver Sun, March 12, 2010
Vancouver — Two Hells Angels members received short jail sentences Friday of one year and 14 months for serious drug traffic…
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Ocean playground
Photos taken near Powell River
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Would they lie to us?
Nine Months before Olympics, Province Saw Big ‘Shortfall’, Bob Mackin, The Tyee, November 14, 2011
“…When VANOC revealed its post-Games financial report on Dec. 17, 2010, it claimed a balanced budget after $188.78 million in operations revenue fro…
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Political action at the grass roots
Inside the Russell Pearce recall, Amy McMullen, Salon.com
A good read about citizen-activists organizing to make Russell Pearce, President of the Arizona Senate, the first state legislator in Arizona history removed from office via a recall election…
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Some targets are easier to make than others
Forget land costs, management and operating expenses; BC Place still needs $2.5 million a month to break even. That represents amortization of recent renovation costs over 20 years. Of course, the actual revenue needed for break even is much higher bec…
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: If we do not act, we bear the guilt
“Its the name on the front of the jersey that matters most, not the one on the back.”
Joe Paterno (Penn State)
Legendary coach Joe Paterno and Penn State are in the news but not for football results or academic achievements. I won’t repeat details exce…
Northern Insights / Perceptivity: George Monbiot explains national bankruptcy
The 1% are the very best destroyers of wealth the world has ever seen, George Monbiot, The Guardian
“If wealth was the inevitable result of hard work and enterprise, every woman in Africa would be a millionaire. The claims that the ultra-rich 1% make f…
Northern Insights / Perceptivity: Old news, aged quickly
Today, media conglomerates are not only influenced by Big Money interests, but they are often themselves Big Money interests.
– Cameron Gaut
I wrote earlier that the Toope Report helps the Liberal Government change the subject from that which makes it …