And just after I wrote my previous post...

I heard on Global News that Ernie Eves will be resigning his seat.

Ernie Eves, resign your seat!

What is former premier and Ontario P.C. leader Ernie Eves up to? He hardly shows up when the Legislature is sitting, and is actively looking for some other job to move to. Meanwhile, P.C. leader John Tory is without a seat, and has been counting on Eves to resign his safe seat so that Tory can be at Queen's Park when it resumes sitting in March. Ernie, resign and move on! You're the reason why we lost the government, and you're diddling is making the new party leader look back right when we have the opportunity to set ourselves up for the next election. Believe it or not, McLiar's standing in the polls have gone up recently. I doubt it's because of their own performance, but largely because of the percieved lack of leader on the P.C. side. Ernie, do the right thing and make way for John!

On the 2nd Anniversary of this blog, democracy prevails in Iraq!

Two years ago tomorrow, I wrote my first entry to this blog. In that entry, I commented briefly on the debate within Canada to join the war in Iraq, and the need to eliminate the tyranny of Saddam Hussein. Alas, Jackass Chretien decided to become a puppet to the French and not join the coalition.

Today, 60 percent of eligible Iraqi voters (a good turnout by our own North American standards, and amazing considering the circumstances today in Iraq) chose to be brave in the face of the homicide bombers and terrorists, and went out to vote today. Even in Sunni areas, where turnout was predicted to be low, voter turnout far exceeded expectations, and extra voting resources had to be rushed to those areas to handle the long lineups. The pride on the faces of Iraqi citizens today in finally being able to get the opportunity to freely express a democratic right to vote was obvious on any newscast this morning. Citizens of other Arab countries who are seeing what is happening on the pan-Arab language satellite networks will be wondering why they do not have this right as well. In Syria, where Iraqi ex-patriates had an extremely high turnout of around 80%, Syrian citizens must be wondering why they don't have the same democratic right. The domino effect of democracy in the Middle East has started.

Citizens of those nations who joined the coalition should be proud today of their country's participation in spreading democracy in the Middle East. Bush, Blair, Howard, Aznar, Berlusconi, Kwasniewski, and the other leaders of the coalition nations, congratulations to all of you for your success in defending and spreading freedom. Sadly, Canada is not one of those nations.

Communist Broadcasting Corporation's Vicious Attack on Fox News

The CBC is running scared. I haven't watched CBC News in ages due to their radical left-wing and constant anti-American spin on the news. Many other Canadians obviously do the same; anyone who has seen the TV ratings lately know their national newscasts have been mired in dead last for years behind CTV and Global. Maybe 6% of Canadians watch their newscast. What is even more outrageous is that $1 BILLION of your tax money goes to fund these radical left-wing liberals.

So while watching the O'Reilly Factor tonight on Fox News, I found out CBC's "The Fifth Estate" ran a story with an outright vicious and blatantly dishonest attack on Fox News Channel. What are they afraid of? Earlier today, I posted how the left don't truly believe in freedom of speech, unless the speech is something that they agree with. Fox News comes up here in December to present an alternative viewpoint, and all the CBC can do in response is attack them. They're afraid that more people are going to hear about Fox News and start to subscribe and watch, and finally learn what real journalism and "fair and balanced" coverage is, or even worse, adopt opinions that doesn't agree with what the CBC's worldview. (For more details on what the CBC's definition of "balanced" coverage is when it comes to the Iraq elections, check out this post by Paul Denton over at Ravishing Light)

What we truly need in Canada, as Bill O'Reilly terms it, is a "culture war", to bring the conservative view back into prominence in Canada. Down in the U.S., from Fox News to conservative radio talk shows, and from conserative foundations, to an organized blogosphere, they just have a far better infrastructure in getting their message directly to the people, rather than having it filtered through liberal media.

Cross-Border Blogger reports that Preston Manning is starting a new foundation to spread conservative ideas. Good start. We also have this "Blogging Tories" blogroll that I just joined as another mechanism to get better organized. There's also a great new magazine available at Chapters and Indigo called "The Western Standard", published by Calgary Sun columnist and former National Post editorial board member Ezra Levant.

What is definitely missing in Canada is someone with the charisma of a Bill O'Reilly who would be able to draw viewers and high ratings, while spreading the message. As the Toronto Sun now owns the "Toronto One" TV station, maybe they can create a talk show on the channel. From radio to TV to blogs and magazines, we need to launch our own "culture war".

Molson merges with Coors

... who cares. Both of their beers taste like crap.

Kudos however to a new beer I tried on Tuesday evening at C'est What, at Front and Church. They're a brewpub that has their own line of beers, and they now have a new one: Chocolate Stout. Really good and smooth, went down well with their famous Lamburger. It's not listed as one of the beers on their Web site yet, but you can see what else they have on tap, along with the interesting menu, on there.

Watching the Iraqi Elections

With no thanks to Canada, a great day for democracy has arrived with the Iraqi elections taking place this weekend, their first free elections in over 60 years. In Toronto, voting has already started, with polling stations in Scarborough, North York, and Mississauga. An earlier post of mine was wrong, there are only 11000 eligible voters in Canada, not 25000, so if indeed more than 6000 do turn out to vote here, that is an amazing participation rate. The left, and their media cohorts, will of course try to discredit the entire election, even if it turns out to be a huge success. I've even seen some of these lefty boards cheer on lead terrorist Abu Masab al-Zarqawi, who's been directing the homicide bombers throughout Iraq, and who's admitted to being against the whole concept of democracy itself.

I'll be tuned into the Fox News Channel all weekend for coverage of the election... they have proven, as their slogan says, to be the only network providing real journalism, full coverage, fair and balanced, when it comes to the Iraq elections. The other networks will only report on the negative, without showing the full story.

Speaking of commitment to democracy, the Conservative Party is the ONLY party allowing for a completely free vote on the marriage issue. The Liberals say they are, but why are cabinet ministers being forced by Paul Martin to vote yes, or be kicked out of cabinet? Let's compare that to Conservative PM Brian Mulroney in 1985, when they had the death penalty reinstatement vote, he allowed a completely free vote among his cabinet ministers, even though Mulroney was personally against reinstating the death penalty. As for the ultra left wing NDP, they are showing their "commitment" to democracy by forcing their MPs to vote for the change in definition. No surprise there, seeing how they are completely friendly and openly supportive of such "great democrats" as Fidel Castro and Saddam Hussein.

Polling Numbers

Speaking of polls on same-sex marriage (previous post), Sun Media this morning got a copy of the internal Conservative Party poll on this issue, which shows that 42% of Canadians support Harper's compromise position upholding the traditional definition of marriage and allowing civil unions, while only 35% back Martin's change in the definition.

Even more surprisingly, in Ontario, the gap was 57%-38% in favour of Harper's stand, and specifically in the GTA, 58%-34% for Harper.

Now, this doesn't necessarily turn into votes, but the gap is small... Liberals 31%, Conservatives 28% (no regional breakdown was published). So whether or not this issue is a winner is still up in the air.

Glad to see that the Gomery inquiry into the Liberal sponsorship scandal is back on the front pages. It's obvious that Martin is using the same-sex thing to distract everyone from all of their scandals. They are getting so desparate that they're even accusing Harper and the Tories now of "ethnic profiling", in their recent advertisement targetting. Just like when they accused me and every other ethnic visible minority who belongs to the Conservatives of really being "racists"... um, yeah. Take a look at your own party's history in government, compared to the track record of when Conservatives were in power before you accuse anyone of being racist.

The election will come down to leadership. Harper's solid position on issues, whether or not you agree with them (the strategy worked for Bush), versus the constant waffling and flip-flopping of Martin. Even James Travers in a column in today's Commie Star agrees that this is what it will come down to:
Martin and Harper: It's all about leadership

Famous Players lowers movie prices

From $13.95 to $9.95 in the Greater Toronto Area. Good move, I don't remember the last time that I've been to a Famous Players theatre to watch a movie, simply because it was so expensive.

Prices at other theatres in the area that shows first-run movies that I've been frequenting instead:
Rainbow Fairview Mall: $7.50 ($4.25 matinees)
Cineplex First Markham: $9.35
Any Cineplex, including Varsity, with a Platinum Pass: $6.50

Harper's Stand

I hope that he has some incredibly good polling numbers to back up the personal stand that he's making on same-sex marriage. Although I'm also for the traditional definition, I don't think it's something worth fighting an election over, there are far more important issues that we can get the attention of Canadians on (Liberal mismanagement, taxes, national defence and foreign affairs etc.). Let the churches and other religious organizations fight this one in the background... their followers will know which party closely aligns to their stand. If the Conservatives as a party keeps actively beating this horse, it may keep away voters who would otherwise vote for us on fiscal issues. Those who oppose same-sex marriages will likely come our way anyways, whether or not we bring it up.

No Oscar For You!

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has made their Oscar nominations for the 77th annual awards on February 27th, and Fahrenheit 9/11, no nomination for you! The radical left-wing and liberal-loving media would have had a field day if it had been nominated for anything.

Is Martin finally going to do what is right for Canada, and endorse BMD? Be a leader and quit worrying so much about the polls! This is such a no-brainer that the Liberals are making Canada look stupid. Quit pandering to the anti-Americans and trying to make Bush look bad, you are only encouraging more anti-Americanism. If those alleged comments by the U.S. President were actually made last month, I totally agree with them. Canada has been acting like a bunch of freeloaders for far too long.

Blogging Tories

I've discovered a great new resource for Conservatives across Canada. It's a blogroll called "Blogging Tories", where right-minded bloggers across the country will be able to link to each other. You can see the blogroll on the right hand column of this blog below my list of media links.

Iraqis in Canada, vote! And T.O.'s homeless crisis.

There are about 25 thousand Iraqis in Canada eligible to vote in next weekend's elections, and so far, about 6 000 have registered. Considering the track record of overseas voters in other elections, that is a really good turnout. I encourage all Iraqis to vote, now your country has hope and a future. And you have something that you'll be really voting about (unlike Canada's Martin, who is trying to cover up his own government's ineptness and corruption by attempting to force an issue to distract everyone from them).

Outside, it is currently -21 Celsius, with a -35 wind chill. How is it right for the city to be leaving and allowing homeless people to live on the street? It is time to force them off the street and into shelters... anyone who is willing to risk their health and life by staying out there overnight is obviously not mentally sane. And as for those people arguing about their "rights", what about the rights of everyone else in the city, and those of us who actually pay taxes? Millions of dollars have been poured into trying to solve the problem, and the problem has only gotten worse. Money is not the problem, the system is. (Funny, sounds just like our bottomless pit of a health care system). It's time to go for a completely different solution, rather than just throwing more taxpayer dollars at the problem.

And as for Toronto's image, as both a traveller myself, and as someone who has hosted tourists coming here, the FIRST thing that anyone notices when they come to Toronto (other than maybe our surplus of donut shops) is the amount of homeless people on our streets. There is nowhere else in the world (counting only developed nations) where I have ever been, that have as many homeless people as Toronto on the streets, with the possible exception of Vancouver. Without a doubt, it hurts our tourism industry.

Unionized Terrorists

Actions like what happened last night at Pearson Airport (the illegal wildcat strike by baggage handlers and gate crews) is why, until they get rid of their unionized staff and their crappy attitudes, I will NEVER fly Air Canada unless I have no other choice.

One passenger being interviewed on 680 News this morning summed it up best: Air Canada unions who hold passengers hostage like this are nothing but terrorists, plain and simple, and they should be treated as such.

Philadelphia to become one big wi-fi hotspot

Toronto has to do something like this:
AP: Philadelphia finishing plan for free wireless Internet access

It's about time

Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic, Catholic Archbishop of Toronto, whose archdiocese has 1.4 million members, has joined the Archbishop of Calgary, Sikh leaders, and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, in demanding that Martin invoke the notwithstanding clause to block same-sex marriage for a five year period, to allow for sober second thought. They are all providing their parishioners with directions on how to lobby their MPs, and make this a real issue for any incumbent who votes for the legislation in the next election. The silent majority must speak up.

New Apprentice Hottie

It looks like Audrey, on the "Street Smarts" team, is clearly the new hottie on "The Apprentice 3", which premieres Thursday at 8:30.

Watched the premiere episode of "Iron Chef America: The Series" last night. It's just missing something that makes it inferior to the original. No grand intro of the challenger, a far less interesting opening, and the challenger doesn't get to decide who they want to compete against, it's pre-planned. The cooking competition portion of the show is still just as good, but it nonetheless lacks the intrigue of the original show.

More Liberal Propaganda

Paul Martin and his media horde is making a big deal about "Paul Martin being the first Western leader to visit the disaster zone", and that helping out is "what a Canadian Prime Minister does, it's the Canadian thing to do". Make me gag already. Not only were the Prime Ministers of Sweden, Norway, and Finland, countries that all lost more citizens in the disaster, also in Thailand today, but the Canadian thing to do? It's the human thing to do... I don't see the Germans there saying "it's the German thing to do", or the Aussies saying "it's the Aussie thing to do", they are just there, and doing a helluva lot more than Canada is even capable of, thanks to Liberal cuts to the military. Just the usual propaganda coming out of the Canadian government that nobody else is better than we are.

And Martin heads to Sri Lanka, where amongst his itinerary, he will be meeting with the Tamil Tigers, a terrorist organization that is banned by the US and UK. Of course Canada won't totally ban them because the Liberals want the votes of the Tamil community, and Martin has even gone as far as attending their fundraising dinners. More evidence that "wishy-washy" Martin is more concerned with votes and the polls (see BMD), than biting the bullet and acting like a strong leader to do what is best for the country.

Took him long enough to get Immigration Minister Judy Sgro to resign as well. How more corrupt can you possibly get?

The Ryerson Sticker Lady

Anyone who has gone to Ryerson, or works near the Yonge-Queen area, knows exactly who I'm talking about.

"A Sticker for the Handsome Man?"
"Something for the Pretty Lady?"

It turns out that she is what everyone thought, a fraud. Owns a $330k house out in Hamilton, and commutes into "work" everyday.

Toronto Sun: "Beggar's Sticky Business"

28 Days Until Moving Day

Yep, my postings haven't been all that detailed over the last few days. Busy, busy...

Four weeks from today, I should be all moved into my new condo downtown. Other than getting the legal stuff into motion, I started to dive into all the crap that I've been collecting over the years to decide what to keep, and what to throw out. Some boxes down in the basement gathering dust that I haven't touched since I moved here from Boston three and a half years ago. Interesting old photos I found in one of the boxes also, including a trip to New York City a few years back, and watching a May playoff game there between the Leafs and Devils, where the Leafs won ;-)

Kind of odd also seeing the World Trade Centre twin towers in some of the pictures.

Really Good Tech Show

I was complaining a few days ago about the downfall of TechTV. There is another really good consumer-oriented techie program that I just found:

Click Online, BBC World, Saturday mornings at 11:30 AM Eastern.

Today's episode was the first of two covering the CES in Las Vegas.

Royal Dumbass

The only good thing that came out of Prince Harry's idiotic wearing of a Nazi uniform is that it has gotten what happened back in the Holocaust, and the actions of Nazi Germany, back into the spotlight. Too many younger people today are way too ignorant of what happened just 60 years ago.

Jays get Shea Hillenbrand, and Mad Cows

For once, a good move by the Jays, getting Hillenbrand from Arizona. Having seen him play, I think he definitely has potential to do 25 HR/100 RBI. Don't too much about pitcher Adam Peterson, who the Jays traded for him. He bombed out in his three-game call up last season, but he was a first round draft pick (Toronto, 2002), so it's possible Arizona may have a good future pitcher there who still needs more development.

Re: The Mad Cow thing... I blogged some time ago about supporting the Quebec government's proposal that the current federal jurisdictions for agriculture/cattle/whatever, should be split up into regions, so that Ontario and Quebec doesn't have to suffer from closed borders if something happens out west (or vice versa). Again I say, why is their one body for a country this physically large? The chances of a mad cow case in Alberta affecting a cow in Ontario is zero, we are two separate cattle markets. Yet, our exports to the U.S., Europe, Japan and elsewhere are also banned, because of something that happens 2000 miles away!

Food and Beer...

This blog is almost two years old... man, time flies. However, I've noted that the theme of this blog has gone way off what the predecessor site to this was intended to be, namely reviews of Toronto (or wherever I happen to be) restaurants, and beers. I don't even remember the last time that I did a restaurant review.

So, they're back... I haven't eaten out at a new place in a while, so the next time that I do, there'll be a review. Of course, I'll be bringing back my popular amended Zagat system:
6 categories, maximum of 100 points: Food (25), Ambience/Decor (20), Service (20), Draft Beer Selection (15), Menu Variety (10), "Hottie Factor" (10)

I'll have to make a separate web page somewhere, so that there'll be an index of the restaurants (and beers) that I review, so readers can quickly reference a prior review.

Of course, I'll still be blogging about politics and the "Fight for the Right".

Digital Specialty Channels Review

Having had digital cable for a week and a half now, I've gotten a scan of many of the specialty channels that they include as a free preview, and quite frankly, a lot of them are crap. Endless repeats, or totally unoriginal content that you can get on other stations.

Here are the gems:
The news channels:
- Fox News Channel I've already written extensively about, especially the hard-nosed, in your face program, The O'Reilly Factor. (I've even gotten my father watching the show every night!)
- BBC World - great international news coverage

The sports channels:
- Rogers Sportsnet Regionals: More basketball, more baseball in the summer, and Sportsnetnews on almost all the time
- Raptors NBA TV: Yet more basketball (although probably useless in the summer)

Other:
- CTV Travel: I love traveling, so it's interesting seeing places around the world. Too much emphasis on resorts though.
- MuchMoreRetro: All retro, all the time, commercial-free!

Here are the total Disappointments:
-G4techTV: What a useless channel. This used to be a good channel when I got it in the U.S. back in 2001, but it's since been bought out by a gamer network, and provides absolutely no useful information at all. I hear ZDNet (the original owners of Tech TV), and Microsoft are supposed to create a new technology channel. With it being part-owned by Microsoft though, it may not be "fair and balanced"
-The Biography Channel: I loved "Biography" when A&E showed them nightly, with a live host that kept the episode in context with current events. This channel just shows ancient versions, and endless repeats, of the biography, without any updates regarding the subject today
-ESPN Classic Canada: Nowhere as good as the U.S. version of the channel, which I watched avidly when I was living in the U.S.

I haven't watched much of the various Discovery Channel incarnations yet, or The National Geographic Channel, so I won't judge yet. I've heard a lot of it though is just endless reruns. I noticed Discovery Wings was renamed The Military Channel as of Monday, will have to check out more, I saw bits of a couple programs on Monday night, it looked interesting.

Jays sign more over-the-hill players

- Scott Schoeneweis
- Billy Koch(!!!)
- Ken Huckaby
- Pete Walker

Need I say more? C'mon Rogers, you can't compete with the big boys in the division on a budget of only US$53 million. I'm not feeling inspired right now to go out and pre-purchase a ticket package for the upcoming season.

Stephen Harper, Where Are You?

In the past two weeks, has Stephen Harper been anywhere to be seen? It could be that the liberal media just has chosen not to cover him, but I haven't seen him in The National Post either as making an appearance anywhere in the country. While Paul Martin gets brownie points for the perception that Canada is actually doing something (but like I said in an earlier post, the victims don't remember money, they will only remember the troops and people on the ground who actually provided relief), Harper has been nowhere to be seen.

Saturday's National Post had an article on eight of the first-term Conservative MPs that were elected last June, and how they are the future stars and cabinet ministers if the Tories form the government. Their performance both inside and outside the House of Commons have outshone both the Liberal Cabinet Ministers for whom they are the critics of, and their own party leader, Harper. Unfortunately, the article also mentions that their position in the polls have gone nowhere (fortunately, neither have the Liberals), due to the uncharismatic and lacklustre performance of Harper. Listening to the man speak makes you want to fall asleep.

It doesn't take much to outdo Martin when it comes to charisma and public speaking. Yet somehow, the Conservatives have failed to do this, because Harper isn't any better. Going back to my vote in the leadership race last March, I voted for Tony Clement, as not only is he smarter policy-wise, but despite his geekish, boring appearance, having seen him speak in person three times, he is an amazing public speaker. The polls would be drastically different right now if Clement was the leader. Unfortunately, we can't do anything with the Conservative leadership before the next election, but if results don't drastically change, Harper has to go.

No Wonder Liberals love the UN so much...

They're teaching each other how to be corrupt, and steal money to give to their friends.

Early reports are coming out into the investigation of the U.N.'s Iraq Oil-For-Food scandal. The details are so eerily similar to our own federal Liberal sponsorship scandal... giving money to firms for non-existent work and services not delivered, firms selected were friendly to top UN officials etc. etc. And it all goes right up to the top, Kofi Annan himself.

The UN, the organization that did nothing about Saddam in Iraq, did nothing about Milosevic in Yugoslavia, and which is the centre of bureaucratic waste. And now corruption that goes right to the top. It's no wonder why liberals feel so much at home there.

Newfoundland Post II

A column this morning by former Mulroney cabinet minister John Crosbie of Newfoundland, printed in The Toronto Sun, on why they are so angry with the rest of Canada and how they've been treated since joining in 1949.

Toronto Sun: John Crosbie: "Our beef with Canada"

Remember, Newfoundland joined Canada VOLUNTARILY in 1949, via a referendum that barely passed (something like 51%). They have the right to leave whenever they want. Also, the vision of Canada at the time, as seen by the Fathers of Confederation in 1867, was that Canada was to be a CONFEDERATION OF PROVINCES, and that's what Newfoundland believed to be getting themselves into. It was Trudeau's re-engineering and corruption of history, and propaganda, during his tenure in the 1970s (followed up by Chretien in the 1990s) that brought in the false belief that Canada was one country of two founding nations and languages, and our current horror of Ottawa trying to control every aspect of our lives, rather than leaving power with the provinces, where it belongs.

Also, see the comments that I put in, for my previous post at 9:50 am this morning, that was a response to a comment by one of the blog's regular readers and commentators.

Support Newfoundland and Labrador, and more Fox News (and BBC World) accolades

Send letters to both Paul Martin and Finance Minister Ralph Goodale to voice your support for the federal government to finally give Newfoundland a fair deal.

Fair Deal for Newfoundland

Was watching a great show on Fox News Channel (Rogers 197, Shaw 142, Star Choice 503!!!) Saturday evening at 6:30 Eastern, Fox News Watch, where they were talking about both U.S. and international coverage by media outlets of the tsunami disaster. Very interesting perspective to see how different countries are covering the same major story. There was also a great show yesterday morning, Forbes on Fox, where they had a very controversial debate: one of the panelists was arguing that public corporations have no right to donate money to tsunami relief, as there sole purpose is to maximize profits for shareholders, and they should be giving dividends to investors, to allow them the choice of donating. The other four panelists quickly disagreed with him, as good public relations increase goodwill, among both employees and customers, which will increase future revenue and profits. Plus corporations have the infrastructure and logistics to deliver aid immediately, individuals don't. While the person giving the first argument does have somewhat of a point, giving aid definitely makes a corporation look good in everyone's eyes, and can only be positive in a long run. Anyways, the main point of writing this was that Fox News was willing to present his argument, and put it out into the open. Other networks would have been too scared to even present it.

As for the so-called "bias", during their talk shows, they openly wear it on their sleeve and say what they are, everyone knows where each individual hosts stand beforehand, and they present and acknowledge both conservative and liberal viewpoints on that channel in the open (nobody can argue that Geraldo Rivera is anything but a liberal!). Outside of the talk show segments, their newscasts are a helluva lot more informative depth-wise, in addition to being more balanced, than the little sound bites you get on most of the other networks. The other networks pretend to be unbiased during both newscasts and their talk shows, but you can hear the liberal biases everywhere, without them acknowledging it. Fox News also has more international coverage than I thought they would, although undeniably U.S. centric in their story selection, through their affiliations with Sky News in the U.K., and an Aussie network owned by their parent corp., they have the world covered.

Although BBC World can be accused of a bit of liberal bias, it is a lot more slight, nowhere as blatant as the CBC by a longshot, and I think that their coverage of world events are great, very in-depth. I was also quite surprised that most of their newscasts are anchored out of Washington and New York, in addition to London, although the channel is aimed at a worldwide audience. It is very interesting to see things reported from a British perspective.

EuroNews I've only watched on occasion, largely because I find it boring. I think they broadcast out of Brussels (big surprise as to why they're so boring!). I've hardly watched MSNBC at all, I think CNN is far better than they are in covering stories. And despite what I was saying about bias earlier, nobody beats Larry King in the talk show game.

I really hope CTV NewsNet wins their regulatory battle against the CRTC to give them more freedom in getting away from their headline news wheel. We need a slightly more balanced 24 hour national news network than the Communist Broadcasting Corporation's Newsworld. (Not that the company that owns CTV and the Liberal leaning Globe and Mail is any better... anyone notice how Bell ExpressVu is the one major cable/satellite company that has NOT picked up Fox News Channel yet?). If only Global and The National Post started up their own all-news TV station in Canada (I have noticed that they have starting use Fox News reporters in some international stories where they can't get their own correspondents to).

Other than Adam Vaughan's rants (and the ever annoying Ann Rohmer), CP 24 (Toronto's local all-news station) is actually not so bad most of the time when it comes to biases. But there is still a definite liberal bias at that station. Now that Quebecor Media (The Toronto Sun) has ownership of Toronto One, I really hope that they ramp up that station's news operations to put on a real newscast to compete with City.

THIS COLUMN WAS UPDATED AT 10:15 AM

Countdown to Moving

Just got a phone call this afternoon from my condo developer to book a time for my pre-delivery inspection, to take place in a couple of weeks. So it looks like my place really is ready, and I'll be moving next month. The adventure begins. I have to actually start packing my stuff to prepare for the move. Arrange for a truck for moving day, getting cable, Internet, and phone set up, and arrange some friends to help me out (hint!). But hopefully all will go as planned.

DART update: The Italians

Global and The National Post reports that the Italian equivalent of the DART team was fully up and running by the Friday, including a field hospital, following the disaster. They had the transport equipment available to get them there, and they didn't wait for anyone to ask them - they just went and assessed the needs once they arrived. By the time Canada arrives in Sri Lanka next week, the Italians will also have a second, more permanent, 80 bed medical facility mostly built.

The O'Reilly Factor Rules! And the Truth About Tsunami Aid

I watched "The O'Reilly Factor" for the first time last night on Fox News Channel (Rogers 197) at 8 PM... and already I'm hooked. Total common sense is what that guy speaks, and he allows both sides of an issue to voice their case. Nice change from the liberal bias that permeates almost every other news show out there. Fair and Balanced. The closest comparable talk show that we probably have here is Bill Carroll on Newstalk 1010 CFRB Radio (and Saturdays at 6:30 on Global TV's Focus Ontario), but he doesn't have the same kind of penetration as O'Reilly does in the U.S., and he tones the opinions down when he's on television.

So our non-existent military is sending out the DART team a whole week and a half after the disaster strikes, while many other countries have troops and military equipment already there to transport and distribute aid (Australia, Taiwan, and even Israel were there in the early stages as they're so close, and the U.S. also sent a aircraft carrier group immediately, and will have 12000 troops deployed by end of week). Makes you wonder what would happen if a similar disaster struck Canada (the DART team had to RENT TWO RUSSIAN AIRPLANES to transport the team. What if they weren't available!). No way we'd be able to cope, and we'd have to go begging other countries to come and bail us out. No amount of money is going to make a dent unless you have a way of actually distributing aid and logistics there (plus, that is who the victims will remember as helping them out, seeing US Navy helicopters and personnel delivering aid - they'll have no idea that Canada gave US$65 million (C$80 million) in public money.) I've always said, no military = no influence on the world. PM Paul, good luck with your vision that you had expressed on making Canada an influential country again.

Speaking of which, it would be interesting to get the real aid numbers from each country, including private and corporate donations, and military expenditures to deliver aid. I would bet the national rankings of who truly contributed the most aid wouldn't even be close, once you counted these numbers.

Interesting how for all their whiny criticism, the French and German goverments are nowhere to be seen on the aid charts, even when counting only public government aid. As for the rich Arab oil nations of the Middle East, where are they? A country as rich as Saudi Arabia giving only US$10 million. There's your Muslim solidarity for you.

The Holiday Season Ends

Just finished off hosting a dinner here, and had some cousins that we've never met before. They just moved from Jamaica about three years ago, and live in Georgetown, and we had no idea they even existed. My mom had not seen them in about thirty years. Also went to another dinner on Saturday. Lots of food...

Got digital cable installed here today, so I now have access to four additional television news sources: BBC World, Euro News, MSNBC, and most importantly, the fair and balanced coverage of Fox News Channel. I definitely like what I see so far.

Time shifting to another Global station also allowed me to see the New York Jets-St. Louis Rams game on another channel while the Bills were fighting for their lives. Added choice is always good.

Vegemite in the mailbox

As if by amazing coincidence yesterday after I wrote that last post mentioning vegimite, I went to go and check the mail, and found a parcel from the UK. It contained a bottle of vegimite! I had jokingly put into an email a couple weeks back for some Aussies to send some vegimite up to Canada... one of the Aussies I met last summer who lives in England replied back asking for my mailing address, and lo and behold, there it was yesterday. I'll go and make myself a vegemite sandwich.