Should Criminals Host TV Shows?

Criminal record checks have become all too common as part of the hiring process. Employers want to know that you won’t steal their pencils.

But in some jobs, a criminal record check really does prevent problems for both employer and employee down the road.

Last thing a major television network wants, is to have it’s top rated morning show host taken away in handcuffs.

But if you’ve done the time for your crime, should you be allowed on television?

Television’s perfect home body, Martha Stewart is back on the TV, after doing time for securities fraud.

In Canada, media baron Conrad Black may be following the home body’s lead, as there is talk that he may get his own talk show on a cable channel available across the nation.

Conrad Black served time for fraud as well, just a different kind. His was to do with his newspaper empire, and made headlines in some of those papers, as he continued to write columns while in prison.

Now he may be on the airwaves, broadcasting his thoughts on television.

Which raises the question – should convicted criminals be hosting television shows?

We all make mistakes, and both Stewart and Black have paid for those mistakes by serving out their criminal sentences in prison.

But millions of people are denied even the most entry level of jobs, because of their criminal past.

Such as the teenage mom, that can’t get a job working in a retail store, because her criminal background check shows she was charged with theft. What it doesn’t show is she stole a loaf of bread to feed her kid.

There are other reasons why criminals don’t usually get put on the tube. The last thing any network president wants, is to turn on his station, to see someone telling the world how to break the law.

It’s unlikely Black or Stewart would publicly tell others to do something illegal. But the possibility is always there.

And our television personalities are role models for us all. We get hooked on their energy and drive, and often mimic them.

So putting criminals on television is bad for our kids, and ourselves.

Do we want others to follow Lance Armstrong?

Before the cyclist came forward with confessions of “doping” while competing he was a role model to many.

Now that he’s come out and spoken publicly about his drug-laden past, he’s on television even more – explaining himself and what he did.

Fair enough, television does provide a forum for public debate, and all sides should be allowed to participate.

But if someone were to offer Armstrong his own television show, I’d question that person’s motives.

And you should too.

Peace, Order and Good Governance? Not in Toronto

If you live in Canada’s largest city, today you are either breathing a sigh of relief or cursing at the fiasco of local government.

Since Rob Ford became Toronto’s mayor in Dec. 2010, the feisty outspoken – and edgy – Ford had caused uproar, controversy and today came close to being the first Canadian mayor to be fired by a court of law.

Lucky for Mayor Ford the court ruled in his favour, and he remains mayor of Canada’s largest city.

But through it all, the primary role of his office – of all elected municipal politicians at the City of Toronto – is to provide good governance of the city.

Good governance is a sacred right in Canada. It says so in the Canadian Constitution dating back to 1867, that we have a right to: “peace, order and good government.”

City of Toronto Councillor Joe Mihevc said himself on a local news channel that Torontonians haven’t been getting good government quite a while, and that they are frustrated because of it.

Damn right we are!

The whole notion of paying for a service which you don’t get is enough to make anyone’s blood boil. That this service is also a guaranteed right under the highest law in the land – the Canadian Constitution – makes it all the more serious of an offence to us all –or it should.

Because when politicians start to ignore the founding laws of the nation in which they serve, they tarnish the very fabric which makes that nation whole.

That’s why Toronto owes you money.

The City of Toronto should refund Toronto residents for their lack of governance.

I want a refund for the Mickey Mouse antics I’ve witnessed by our local politicians. And you should too.

It’s embarrassing to watch Canada’s largest city, with some of the most experienced veteran municipal politicians, failing to act professionally in their management of our city.

And management of our city, of our province and of our country is a fundamental law, ironed into the very weave which made Canada a country.

We have peace.

We have order.

We just don’t have good governance.

That needs to change.

How Today’s Extreme Cold Proves Global Warming

Anyone stepping out into the frigid temperatures sweeping across all of Canada, the Northern United States, and parts of Europe may have thought global warming took a holiday.

It is called warming, not cooling.

However, the record-breaking deep chills across a massive chunk of our planet are just one of many climatic events which proves we’re dancing on a dangerous slope with climate change, brought about by global warming.

Extreme weather – of any kind – is the tell tale sign we’re in the midst of a major climate change. And although it was cold enough in some parts to freeze water on sight, it is all due to global warming.

When you’re talking about any change on a planet-wide scale, you’re typically talking about extremely small changes over long periods of time. But because these small changes occur planet-wide, they have big repercussions.

So a one degree increase in the average global temperatures might not seem like much. But that manifests itself by one degree in either way on the extremes too.

So if over the past decade, our average temperatures have increased by one degree, that now means our hottest temperatures are 10 degrees hotter, and our coldest days are 10 degrees cooler.

Which is why today’s extremely cold conditions across the globe are a sign of global warming.

Extremes in temperatures aren’t the only cause for concern. These minuscule temperature changes over time also bring extremes in other weather too.

Our snow storms are getting more fierce, our summertime thunder storms more violent, and our fall hurricanes more treacherous.

As our planet warms, it essentially makes it more dangerous for us all.

Extreme cold weather, tornadic activity, and hurricanes with sweeping storm fronts have been known to kill off unfortunate people living in the affected areas.

Oh wait – we all live in the affected areas because these events are global – that’s the nature of global warming.

America Isn’t the Great Country Everyone Thinks it Is

On the day when the first black American President is sworn in for his second term in office, all you have to do is re-read this sentence to see what is wrong with America.

When Barack Obama was first sworn in, he was jettisoned to instant rock star celebrity status. He made the history books, by becoming the first non-white man to lead the most powerful nation on our planet.

Today, he’s being sworn in for his second term in office, and although he has lost much of that rock star appeal, the most powerful country on the planet still can’t get over the fact that he’s not white.

Or at least that’s the image the rest of the world sees, when America makes more of a deal about their leader’s skin colour, than what he has accomplished.

Usually, when an American President is sworn into office – especially for the second time – the focus is on his past accomplishments, and possible future plans.

Although these are being discussed in Washington, DC, the media focus is once again on the colour of the re-elected leader.

Other countries may have rioting in the streets, extreme poverty where innocent children don’t get more than a stale piece of rock hard bread if they are lucky, for the whole day. There are other countries around the globe with brutal wars being fought, so the very thought of stepping outside for fresh air is a dangerous one.

Yet these places don’t make a big deal about the colour of their leader’s skin.

Perhaps the once thought of greatest country in the world, really isn’t so great after all?

There aren’t riots in the streets, extreme poverty, famine, disease, or brutal wars raging across America.

Well, there is one.

It’s that silent but deadly war called racism.

Because when the most powerful country in the world is more concerned with the colour of their leader’s skin, than what that person has done for their country, that brings to light the unspoken truth about America.

Despite all that American’s have achieved, they still are struggling with one of humanity’s most insidious traits.

Racism.

It’s a brutal battle in of itself. And it’s being played out on the world stage, by the very fact that despite having the same person in the White House for another four years, Americans can’t get over the fact that he’s not white.

Sad. 

Are We Ready for a Woman in Power?

Before Barack Obama became America’s first non-white male president, there was much debate which would American’s most likely accept – a woman president or someone that wasn’t white?

This debate continues in the strangest of places of sorts – on the airwaves in Canada. Earlier this week, a radio disc jockey in British Columbia was fired, for asking the female premier of that province what it’s like to be a MILF.

Shock-Jock Justin “Drex” Wilcomes, surprisingly got an answer from BC Premier Christy Clark: “You know, I take that as a compliment . . . better a MILF than a cougar.”

Wilcomes was fired, and has since apologized to the political leader of Canada’s most western province. Though he quickly got back on the air, he’s now working for another station in Vancouver, BC.

This isn’t the first time the female politician has taken a ribbing for her female charms. Late last year, eclectic billionaire-business tycoon Sir Richard Branson went kite surfing with a beautiful naked woman on his shoulders while visiting the province. After the media stunt, he said if the premier wants a similar ride, she should call him, but she must be naked to ride.

Branson too caused a public outcry, and eventually apologized to the female premier.

But these incidents raise the question – are North American’s really ready and accepting of women in powerful positions?

If Hillary Clinton became was elected president of the United States, would she have quickly attained the rock star status that President Obama achieved when he first was elected?

Or would she also go through the growing pains of being sexualized such as the premier of BC?

There have been women in high powered positions. In the 1980’s who could forget Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of England, known for her iron-glad stance on the economy?

Canada briefly had a woman prime minister, but she was more of a scapegoat for the outgoing prime minister Brian Mulroney. Kim Campbell was handed the rings to the Canadian prime minister key chain, by the outgoing Mulroney. The press quickly labelled her just a female version of the outgoing prime minister, and she lost the election, because Mulroney’s popularity had slipped so much so, he wouldn’t have won had he remained in office.

Campbell was never sexualized like the current premier of BC, but she didn’t last long in power.

Have we grown-up beyond our own prejudices?

Why should it matter whether America’s president is white, black or brown? Why should it matter if that person is a man or a woman?

Why indeed?

Despite our amazing advances in technology over the years, our society may not be advanced enough to recognize that a person’s race or sex has little to do with their leadership abilities.

Until our society crosses that threshold, we are still a primitive society. We just have a lot of nice tech gadgets to occupy our time.

What Would It Take to Win You Back?

After a brutally long labour dispute, the National Hockey League (NHL) is trying to win back fans, with freebies. Well, at least the American teams are. Here in Canada, the league’s worst team – yet surprisingly most profitable – the Toronto Maple Leafs, is only giving out free access to today’s practice, and a complimentary bag of popcorn and a cup of hot chocolate.

In the States, many NHL teams are trying to buy back fan loyalty with free tickets, free parking, free hot dogs, jerseys and even half-priced beer.

Despite the free stuff being handed out to weary hockey fans, for once a professional sporting franchise actually may have lost more than most of the regular season, and a bunch of fans.

Unions making unreasonable demands in these uneven economic times have laid to rest big businesses. Just ask the 3,000 Twinkies makers now looking for work, thanks in part to their union’s long battle with Hostess. Hostess has gone out of business.

What good is a union if it puts it’s members out of work?

The National Hockey League Player’s Association, the union representing the millionaire twentysomethings playing a kids game for profit, cost the NHL more money to ratify their latest collective agreement, in an economy where people are more worried about paying their rent, than paying to see a hockey game.

In such an economy, doing anything – anything – which alienates your customers isn’t exactly the brightest idea.

But that’s exactly what the player’s union did, as they battled management, leaving fans out in the cold.

Now the NHL is in an uncomfortable and awkward situation, spending more money to woo back customers, so they can afford the latest demands from the union.

Unions have a respectful history, ensuring protection of worker’s rights when none existed. We’ve come a long way since the Industrial Revolution, and thanks to unions lobbying governments, labour laws prevent most of the atrocities of the past.

These days, unions are more Mofia-like thugs, threatening walkouts, strikes and other nasty business, if they don’t get more money, more job security and other things which aren’t really to protect workers rights, as they are to justify the union dues members pay.

And given the ways unions handle negotiations in such a hostile fashion, one wonders if perhaps union bosses wished they were in the mob?

What if comes down to is money.

Unions cost their members money, not just in dues taken right off the top of their hard earned pay, but also in the wages. When they force their members to walkout, strike, work-to-rule and other mob-like tactics, their members only get partial salaries, commonly called “strike pay.”

And unions threaten the viability of a business, by cutting off the goods sold to the customer – be it Twinkies, or hockey tickets and a plastic cup of beer.

Unionized labour’s time has come and gone.

American’s Just Love Their Bang-Bang

US President Barack Obama has been spouting off about making his country safer, since the horrible tragedy of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting last month.

President Obama even went so far as to announce what he calls the most aggressive stance on gun control legislation ever.

His proposed changes aim to reduce the amount of high-powered assault weapon ammunition packs – called “clips” that American’s may own, calls on civil servants to be more thorough with background checks of applicants requesting gun permits, and even calls for the prohibition of certain types of automatic assault weapons.

Nice.

Notice anything missing?

What about just banning the bang-bang in the first place?

The reason Americans shoot each other is because they can. It’s in their constitution – just ask the National Rifle Association (NRA), they harp on that very fact every time someone dare’s suggest banning the public’s right to fire arms.

Banning high-powered assault weapons is a start – one must question the safety and sanity of a nation where the general population believes it’s normal to own military-grade weapons.

Here in Ontario, Canada, you can’t even buy a bottle of booze just anywhere, you have to go to a government-run liquor store.

Yet in the good ‘ol USA, you can walk into a Wal-Mart and purchase enough fire power to create your own army.

If President Obama really wanted to make his country safer, he should ban the sale of guns to the public period.

Police, the military and other law officials that have been trained in the correct maintenance and use of these dangerous tools should have the right to carry guns, as it’s part of their job.

However, when a cute thirtysomething teacher on the NBC Nightly News is firing off rounds of ammunition at a gun range, and says on the broadcast that she’s practising so she can protect her students, we know there is something wrong with American society.

Deathly wrong.

That’s all that guns are for.

To kill.

Sure, we’ve all seen in the movies some snarky special agent shooting to slow or injure a criminal in some flashy action movie.

Hollywood rarely imitates real life. In the heat of the moment, when your typical beat cop that’s never had to pull his gun out in the line of duty suddenly does, he’s not going to be so precise.

And we’re assuming a police officer has had years of training. Your average American that owns a high-powered assault weapon probably hasn’t had the training that a cop has.

If President Obama really wanted to make his country safe, he’d ban guns period.

Guns don’t kill people.

People with guns kill people.

Bigger TV Requires Bigger House

How big is your television? The common answer across much of North America is 52’ – some are larger, many are smaller, but by in large, the average household with a high definition TV has one in that range.

Coming soon though – thanks to the Consumer Electronics Show(CES) recently held in the States – 80’ TVs and larger.

Yeppers, LARGER.

For the past couple of years, the major television manufacturers have been toying with new TV tech. This new technology uses a combination of filters, screens, and video compression technologies to bend light into moving p

That’s why they are calling it 4K – or technically 4K Ultra High Definition or 4K UHD. This new standard in television viewing produces resolutions of 3840 X 2160.

As with all electronics these days, not only are the manufacturers making things better, but also smaller. So these new 4K TVs are thinner and lighter than even the slimmest full 1080p HDTVs today.

This means they can – and do – make these new 4K TVs even BIGGER.

The smallest one I’ve heard about was 70’ – the largest was over 102’ – remember the average size currently in North America is about 52’.

With a bigger screen and better picture comes a much bigger price. These 4K UHD TVs have been listed at CES and other tech shows in price from $10,000 to $25,000 and up.

You can walk into your local Wal-Mart and pick up a pretty decent 52’ HDTV for under a grand.

Even if you have the outrageous dough to purchase one of these new 4K TVs, don’t – it’ll take a while before anyone is producing content in that resolution.

If you currently subscribe to HD cable, you’ll still see a lot of standard definition stuff on the dial – not everything is in HD even today.

And it’ll take even longer for TV stations, networks and production companies to fork out the millions required to upgrade to the lights, cameras, editing software and other tech to produce 4K broadcast-quality television.

Give it about five years or more. But by then, the even higher resolution will be entering the marketplace. 8K UHD is already being tested by the very same television manufacturers about to unleash 4K on the cash strapped tech world.

102’ TV?

Sheesh.

I need a bigger house just to accommodate that!

Teachers Harm Their Students in Blind Self Interest

As the economy continues to nose dive, labour unrest grows, as everyone is worried about their job.

That’s understandable, given a job is the foundation for keeping us fed, clothed and sheltered in our modern, always on and available world.

From pilots, at a small Canadian airline – Porter – going on strike, to the loss of Twinkies in the States thanks in part to a union’s increasing costs to the profit losing-company Hostess, organized unions aren't very – well – organized – these days.

The latest victim to the labour movement are perhaps those most unprepared for it – our children.

In Canada’s largest province, Ontario, the province’s teachers union is organizing an illegal strike, because they don’t agree with their latest collective agreement.

Granted, that collective agreement was mandated upon them by the government, however, last I checked, the government was well within its legal and some may argue ethical, rights to do just that.

Since the school year began last September, the teachers just haven’t been very deserving of apples, as they hold our kids hostage all so they can guarantee something no one can anymore – job security and salary increases. The teachers have stopped hosting extra-curricular activities, coaching school sports teams, and even forced kids to cross picket lines.

Imagine, being a scared child, and having to be rushed through an angry mob just to get to class!

Maybe Ontario’s teachers skipped economics class, because most know when the economy tanks, job security and guaranteed wage increases just don't happen.

Unless you've got a mafia – I mean union boss – threatening – I mean negotiating – on your behalf.

Seriously, unions act just like organized crime. They come around, force you to sign up for “protection,” threaten your job if you refuse, and then they go out and bully your manager if they don’t get what they want.

Maybe they can enlist the cast of The Sopranos to do a new TV show, only instead of leading a crime family of gangsters, Tony Soprano will lead a group of high school teachers?

Whatever happened to teachers that gave a damn about teaching? Where did the teachers go that actually got into the profession to shape future generations?

Millions of people globally are struggling just to find a basic job – yet the average Ontario teacher makes a very comfortable middle-class income, and all we ask of them is to take care of our kids so they too can have a future.

Mr. Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, you’re too nice. You should abolish the union, fire any teacher instantly that refuses to do their job, and hire one of the thousands of Ontarian’s out of work.

That’ll teach the teachers a lesson in economics.

Honestly Apple, Really? NO

Today the tech world is swirling with yet another rumour about the latest product that might be coming from Apple – a cheaper version of its flagship iPhone.

The rumour says the “new” cheaper version, will have a larger screen, and a new design, and is economically priced for third-world economies.

For years, Apple’s marketing mantra has been to leak rumours, mis-information and in some cases actually intentionally leave prototypes of their latest tech in public places, to be mysteriously found and leaked to the world.

Remember when the prototype of an iPhone was “accidentally”left at a bar, and it’s grainy amateurish pictures went viral over the social networks?

This is how they “surprise” us with their product launches; to keep is guessing as to which rumours are true, and which ones weren't.

Honesty is the foundation of any relationship, except it would appear, if you are an Apple customer – gossip mongering is hardly an honourable form of communications.

Seriously Apple, when you first rumoured, leaked and yes – lied – about your future tech toys, it proved to be a very successful marketing campaign.

But come on now – we’re all a little older and wiser to this game, and we’re sick and tired of hearing about what may come.

Just tell it like it is. Give it to me straight up and honest. I can take it – and I bet so too can everyone else.

Real trend setters are constantly changing their tactics, because that’s how you set the standards everyone else wants to follow.

If you keep dancing to the same song, eventually others will get bored and just walk away – WALK AWAY I SAY.

We all miss Steve Jobs, and we've all heard the rumours that Apple won’t be the same without him.

Prove those rumours wrong, by giving us something more than just more rumours.

The Politics of Democracy

You’d think political influences in a democratic society would be – well – democratic, right? 

Not if you’re a citizen in Canada’s largest city, where democracy rests in the hands of the well-to-do.

Just before the Christmas holiday season, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was brought to court, under a conflict of interest charge. He lost. Not only did he lose the case, he lost his job. The court ruled that the Mayor had shown so much disregard for the laws governing governance, he didn't belong in the mayor’s chair.

Sounds like a fair, legal ruling – logical down to the core.

Though the people responsible for bringing down Canada’s largest mayor weren't those who elected him into power – or at least not the majority of ‘em.

One man, wealthy enough to hire one of the best criminal lawyer in the country, brought the charges to light against Mayor Rob Ford.

You can smell the stink of political poop buried within – why would a criminal lawyer be tasked with a non-criminal case? Yes, the Mayor disobeyed the rules of conduct for his job – but that’s not a felony. It’s no different than you or I being late for work – one doesn't get a criminal record for that!

When you can afford the best lawyer in the game, you win – just look at murderer-or-not O.J. Simpson’s dirty gloves.

Clearly, this case brought against the mayor of Toronto was a politically motivated act, by someone that had it in for the person, not for what he did.

Rob Ford, a veteran politician, should have known better than to vote on a matter in council where he was in direct conflict. However, he shouldn't be forced out of office because one wealthy individual doesn't agree with his politics, his attitude, or his very being.

Yesterday, three judges heard both sides to the sordid tale, as Mayor Rob Ford appealed the ruling which threw him out of office.

He’s still the mayor during the proceedings which continue today, and as of this writing says he’ll run in a re-election if council votes to have one if his appeal fails. Council can vote for a by-election, or simply appoint someone, however a vote has yet to be tendered on which direction to take.

Either way, the politics of democracy isn't very democratic in Canada’s largest city. One well-to-do person shouldn't have the power to remove a person elected to lead by the majority of the citizens.

Yet in our so-called democratic society, money seems to buy one the power to control that democracy – and that certainly isn't democratic.

Regardless of whether you agree with a politician’s policies, performance or person, if that person has been elected into power, you alone shouldn't be the one to take away that power.

Because in a society where one can arbitrarily determine the fate of who ultimately makes decisions for the whole, that democracy ceases to exist.

Game On but The Union Should Be Out

Canada’s national sport has been in a state of limbo since it was supposed to begin this season. That’s because the game’s players went on strike, leaving fans waving their flags in empty sadness.

That was until the National Hockey League (NHL) finally struck a deal with the players union, and it’ll be game on for a shorter 48 game season, set to begin Jan. 19.

Unions seem to be taking the more aggressive approach these days when it comes to labour negotiations.

Strikes, walkouts, protests, work to rule, and work slowdowns and even work stoppages are becoming more common than sitting at the bargaining table and talking like grownups.

Remember when you were a kid, and you’d throw a temper tantrum by kicking and screaming until you got your way?

Unions seem to lack the maturity to negotiate in good faith as they throw their own hissy fits, only when a union throws a hissy fit, it affects more than just those in the room.

Here in Ontario, Canada, the province’s teachers are constantly throwing hissy fits as their union threatens action over a piece of paper that takes away their collective right to strike.

Since the school year began last Sept. Students have continued to suffer, because the teachers refused to run the extracurricular activities which makes our schools well rounded places of learning. There is more to life than reading, writing and arithmetic – and that’s what those after school programs and clubs is for.

Yet the people charged with helping bring today’s youth into the adult world don’t seem to care if those kids aren't well adjusted members of society, so long as they can throw their hissy fits whenever they don’t agree with their employers terms of employment, they’ll do their job – that is if they aren't throwing a childlike hissy fit.

Unions don’t just force their employers to cave in among unreasonable and unrealistic demands, they have also taken to throwing their hissy fits when governments interfere with their right to be treated better than anyone else in society.

It isn’t uncommon for the unions representing pilots and airline workers to throw a strike just as a major holiday season is upon us in Canada or the States, requiring governments to get involved to barter the peace, and keep innocent travellers moving.

Unions once had their place in society. At the turn of the 1900’s when the industrial revolution began, and employers treated their employees like garbage, unions made the world of work better for all.

Labour laws were brought in, thanks in part to the union movement, which prevents horrendous abuses by employers.

So unions these days, fight for things which most of us non-union stiffs could only dream of – job security, guaranteed wage increases, the right to throw a hissy fit whenever we want.

A few years ago, the largest corporation in the world sent a clear message to it’s union – make all the demands you want, but we’ll go out of business if we give in.

General Motors actually threatened to shut down, to declare bankruptcy, to go belly-up and cease to exist, if the unions persisted in their outrageous threats to strike for better wages and job security.

See, in the real world which unions don’t seem to be, wages can only increase if the company can afford to pay those wages. In a declining economy as we've seen for the past decade – a recession really – people don’ t buy cars. When people don’t buy cars, why is it that the automotive unions continue to insist on wage increases and job security?

Just another example of childlike behaviour in the real world, by union leaders.

Abolish unions for the good of everyone. That’s what we need do.

Welcome 2013 – We’ve Been Waiting

Happy New Year to our regular readers, fans, friends and followers.

May the New Year bring personal and professional prosperity, growth, and happiness – and may the lessons learned in the previous year carry you through the challenges of the new one.

Technology is an amazing thing – already there is a Wikipedia entry on 2012 – and yet it is just seconds into 2013 as of this posting.

However, for many of us, 2012 couldn't end soon enough.

It was a year of economic, personal and professional tragedies of global proportions due to a failing economic system, and political and business ideals and values which are out of touch with reality in our ever shrinking global economy.

Let’s work together to make 2013 a change for the better.

Happy New Year!