Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
Really old people who watched Saturday Night Live from episode one will get the joke.
To be sure, vocm.com does report tons of useful information daily and a couple of weekends ago they outed a major story.
This one just struck the funny bone.
12 January 2007
Lono nominated
At least two Liberals in the federal riding of St. John's North read that and fainted.
They should read this instead.
Good on ya, buddy.
The two Liberals will have to wait to faint at the other nomination.
They should read this instead.
Good on ya, buddy.
The two Liberals will have to wait to faint at the other nomination.
11 January 2007
Danny Williams: Public Enemy Number One
Ok.
So the headline on John Crosbie's latest column might be a bit overdone, calling Newfoundland and Labrador's dyspeptic first minister the greatest current threat to national unity.
Crosbie's observation are still spot on, as the audio of his interview with CBC's Jeff Gilhooley.
Lono, at Offal News, has a good take on it, as well.
So the headline on John Crosbie's latest column might be a bit overdone, calling Newfoundland and Labrador's dyspeptic first minister the greatest current threat to national unity.
Crosbie's observation are still spot on, as the audio of his interview with CBC's Jeff Gilhooley.
Lono, at Offal News, has a good take on it, as well.
The age of persuasion
Around this neck of the woods, Thursdays at noon are the time when things go mostly quiet and we flip on CBC Radio One.
That's the time for "O'Reilly and The Age of Persuasion", ad man Terry O'Reilly's look at his business.
There's no way to describe the show and goodness knows the CBC website for the thing would definitely not lead you to suspect you will be getting a half hour that provokes and entertains while it educates.
That's okay.
There's a blog, but it really isn't very exciting.
That's okay, too.
Over at the website for O'Reilly's agency - Pirate Radio and TV - you will get every conceivable indication of just exactly how creative and possibly insane O'Reilly and company are. Pirate does its own work but it also subcontracts production for other agencies.
This is the Internet presence of a truly inventive bunch of people. Click on "Reels" in the top menu and you get samples of their work.
Like the Irving Mainway radio spots for Target that - if memory serves - won an award the first time they aired. O'Reilly directed them. They are actually a variation on a concept originally used for Labatt in another market to push its bedrock line, Blue. The Labatt concept involved having an actor making calls at random to unsuspecting businesses - out of the blue, get it? - with a simple but potentially funny scenario. The whole thing dependend very much on getting the right person on the other end of the phone but odds are good that with a few calls, you could wind up with 30 seconds or so of radio that truly stands out from the clutter.
In the Irving spots, the calls were to people who had won an item in a Mainway contest. They worked really well the first time they aired, since it was hysterical listening to some guy answer questions about winning a bottle of juice as if it were a million bucks. He's humouring this over-the-top chick making the call. However, by the second or third season, the whole thing got tired.
There are some devastatingly funny radio spots for everything from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra to a Toronto car dealership. None of it - absolutely none of it - is conventional.
Is there talent enough to do this kind of creative work around here?
You betcha.
The challenge is finding the clients willing to go with it.
That's the time for "O'Reilly and The Age of Persuasion", ad man Terry O'Reilly's look at his business.
There's no way to describe the show and goodness knows the CBC website for the thing would definitely not lead you to suspect you will be getting a half hour that provokes and entertains while it educates.
That's okay.
There's a blog, but it really isn't very exciting.
That's okay, too.
Over at the website for O'Reilly's agency - Pirate Radio and TV - you will get every conceivable indication of just exactly how creative and possibly insane O'Reilly and company are. Pirate does its own work but it also subcontracts production for other agencies.
This is the Internet presence of a truly inventive bunch of people. Click on "Reels" in the top menu and you get samples of their work.
Like the Irving Mainway radio spots for Target that - if memory serves - won an award the first time they aired. O'Reilly directed them. They are actually a variation on a concept originally used for Labatt in another market to push its bedrock line, Blue. The Labatt concept involved having an actor making calls at random to unsuspecting businesses - out of the blue, get it? - with a simple but potentially funny scenario. The whole thing dependend very much on getting the right person on the other end of the phone but odds are good that with a few calls, you could wind up with 30 seconds or so of radio that truly stands out from the clutter.
In the Irving spots, the calls were to people who had won an item in a Mainway contest. They worked really well the first time they aired, since it was hysterical listening to some guy answer questions about winning a bottle of juice as if it were a million bucks. He's humouring this over-the-top chick making the call. However, by the second or third season, the whole thing got tired.
There are some devastatingly funny radio spots for everything from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra to a Toronto car dealership. None of it - absolutely none of it - is conventional.
Is there talent enough to do this kind of creative work around here?
You betcha.
The challenge is finding the clients willing to go with it.
Meanwhile in Nova Scotia
The Premier is having troubles of his own.
Check the latest at the Daily News here, here and here.
The Canadian Press version is here.
The root of his problem comes from someone asking a simple couple of questions:
What did you know?
When did you know it?
More people should ask those questions.
Check the latest at the Daily News here, here and here.
The Canadian Press version is here.
The root of his problem comes from someone asking a simple couple of questions:
What did you know?
When did you know it?
More people should ask those questions.
Why Loyola left
They had a deal Sully could live with on Equalization.
Danny was of a different mind.
Instead of being a meeting to formally agree, this one will likely be the scene for another Danny tirade. Don't be surprised if he stages some storm-out to avoid having his fellow Premiers rip him a new one for his petulant, self-interested posturing.
Just like the last time.
Notice the date, though.
February 7.
Hmmmmm.
Would be convenient to use a problem with Equalization where Danny supposedly stands alone against the rest of the Premiers and the Prime Minister as an excellent excuse to call an election.
And, as Danny knows full well, he doesn't have to recall the House to drop the writ.
Danny was of a different mind.
Instead of being a meeting to formally agree, this one will likely be the scene for another Danny tirade. Don't be surprised if he stages some storm-out to avoid having his fellow Premiers rip him a new one for his petulant, self-interested posturing.
Just like the last time.
Notice the date, though.
February 7.
Hmmmmm.
Would be convenient to use a problem with Equalization where Danny supposedly stands alone against the rest of the Premiers and the Prime Minister as an excellent excuse to call an election.
And, as Danny knows full well, he doesn't have to recall the House to drop the writ.
10 January 2007
Fishery Products back on the block
CBC News is reporting that talks are underway - again - that might see Fishery Products International Limited's (FPIL) groundfish assets in Newfoundland and Labrador sold off.
As in the last go 'round, two of the potential buyers are Barry Group and Ocean Choice, owned by the Penney Group.
A third proposal is expected from FPI management.
As noted on Bond Papers last May, the goal of the provincial government's changes to the FPI legislation was actually to make it easier to break up the company and sell off the assets. The FPI bill gave cabinet the authority to approve any sale of FPI assets. Under the original Act, a sale of assets would have required a change to the legislation, meaning it would had to come before the legislature for public debate.
As in the last go 'round, two of the potential buyers are Barry Group and Ocean Choice, owned by the Penney Group.
A third proposal is expected from FPI management.
As noted on Bond Papers last May, the goal of the provincial government's changes to the FPI legislation was actually to make it easier to break up the company and sell off the assets. The FPI bill gave cabinet the authority to approve any sale of FPI assets. Under the original Act, a sale of assets would have required a change to the legislation, meaning it would had to come before the legislature for public debate.
Here's why our weather is warmer
Forget global warming, El Nino and cow flatulence.
Newfoundland and Labrador is experiencing milder than usual weather because the weather office is back in Gander.
Iintergovernmental affairs minister John Ottenheimer is quoted as saying "[w]e are committed to examining opportunities where the federal government and the province can benefit from an increase in federal jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador...", after he reminded us that the weather office thing was a Conservative party commitment during the last election.
Unfortunately, Minister Ottenheimer forgot that almost exactly one year ago, the chief Conservative party representative in Newfoundland and Labrador reminded us all that the weather office was the sum total of the commitment.
After all, as Hearn noted, federal jobs that come merely from our tax dollars aren't sustainable.
Newfoundland and Labrador is experiencing milder than usual weather because the weather office is back in Gander.
Iintergovernmental affairs minister John Ottenheimer is quoted as saying "[w]e are committed to examining opportunities where the federal government and the province can benefit from an increase in federal jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador...", after he reminded us that the weather office thing was a Conservative party commitment during the last election.
Unfortunately, Minister Ottenheimer forgot that almost exactly one year ago, the chief Conservative party representative in Newfoundland and Labrador reminded us all that the weather office was the sum total of the commitment.
After all, as Hearn noted, federal jobs that come merely from our tax dollars aren't sustainable.
And it isn't even sweeps week
CRA polling doesn't start up again until October, but already the publicity machine on The Hill is cranking out happy news.
Like this one from the innovation minister's department on a regional trade mission to Florida. It's a general one that says - in so many words - about the same thing as this one from December 14, 2006 and this ministerial statement from December 5, 2006.
It's all great to hear that local companies are making inroads in overseas markets, but how many times can we say essentially the same thing?
Is someone trying to qualify for a Tobin Award - most news releases from a single event or incident?
From the headline - "Florida More Than a Vacation Destination" - some people would likely mistake this for an account of the Premier's favourite place during the winter months.
Like this one from the innovation minister's department on a regional trade mission to Florida. It's a general one that says - in so many words - about the same thing as this one from December 14, 2006 and this ministerial statement from December 5, 2006.
It's all great to hear that local companies are making inroads in overseas markets, but how many times can we say essentially the same thing?
Is someone trying to qualify for a Tobin Award - most news releases from a single event or incident?
From the headline - "Florida More Than a Vacation Destination" - some people would likely mistake this for an account of the Premier's favourite place during the winter months.
Another jihad in the offing
Will Gander get the same level of attention in the meantime as Deer Lake?
Update: Of course, Gander is not in the district of a provincial politician accused of double billing her constituents - and the rest of the province's taxpayers - for expenses.
Update: Of course, Gander is not in the district of a provincial politician accused of double billing her constituents - and the rest of the province's taxpayers - for expenses.
Outmigration details
Statistics Canada figures for the third quarter of 2006 show that outmigration from Newfoundland and Labrador that quarter was the third highest quarterly decline since 1993.
Latest NL Executive Council fashion accessory
Do they have to pay for it or are these covered on an expense claim?
09 January 2007
Did Danny say this?
Yes.
Last week.
Announcing that John Hickey would be relieved of his cabinet duties over accusations he has filed duplicate expense and travel claims to the House of Assembly totalling over $3700.
The local constabulary has opened a file.
Williams response - contrary to a longstanding tradition designed to protect the integrity of government and the administration of justice - was to restore Hickey to cabinet and begin an orchestrated spin campaign involving Williams himself, Hickey and Kathy Goudie, another member of the legislature accused of submitted duplicate claims.
Last week.
Announcing that John Hickey would be relieved of his cabinet duties over accusations he has filed duplicate expense and travel claims to the House of Assembly totalling over $3700.
"I have done what I have done because, as the premier of the province, if I have a person in my cabinet [with] any kind of cloud over at all, [I must] either ask them to resign or move them aside until that cloud passes or is dealt with."This week, the Auditor General issued a public report, recommending the matter be referred to the police.
The local constabulary has opened a file.
Williams response - contrary to a longstanding tradition designed to protect the integrity of government and the administration of justice - was to restore Hickey to cabinet and begin an orchestrated spin campaign involving Williams himself, Hickey and Kathy Goudie, another member of the legislature accused of submitted duplicate claims.
Doing the right
In Labrador, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have demonstrated they the can do right in addition to desiring it.
The bills so nice they claimed them twice
Roger Grimes and Ralph Wiseman - both former members of the legislature - are right on this one: ultimately the submission of claims is the responsibility of the person making the claim.
If members of the House of Assembly didn't submit duplicate claims for the same service, there wouldn't be any double billing.
Looking at the Hickey and Goudie reports, and allowing for the peculiarities of the Auditor General's reporting, though, it's difficult to say that Goudie and Hickey didn't appreciate that by submitting two separate claims using two different means of documentation for the same service that they were doing something that was definitely not kosher.
Premier Danny Williams has tried to apply another frame to these most recent accusations as part of his effort to tamp down the scandal that has now embraced his own ministry directly.
Curious to see experienced reporters accepting the Premier's explanations before they saw the details of what is alleged to have occurred. It'll be more curious if they stick to the same interpretation now that they have seen more information.
Among the curiosities in the latest portion of the House of Assembly spending scandal:
- A member of the legislature reimbursed for a meal dated three months before she was first elected.
- Two members of the legislature submitting different claim forms for the same service and being paid for both. Sometimes the payment was on the same day; sometimes the payments came weeks apart.
- Credit card receipts or debit receipts submitted for meal claims showing one amount; the restaurant invoice submitted for the same meal on a separate invoice showing a different amount.
- One member receiving double payment of per diems for meals and accommodations normally paid when the House is in session, for dates when the House was not sitting.
- Double claiming $775 in donations to various groups, one donation being for $500.
- A member claiming three days of per diems and receiving double payment ten days apart.
- A member submitting two separate claims for a $500 donation using two different receipts and a cancelled cheque as supporting documentation. The dates on each of the three supporting documents shows a different date for the donation.
If members of the House of Assembly didn't submit duplicate claims for the same service, there wouldn't be any double billing.
Looking at the Hickey and Goudie reports, and allowing for the peculiarities of the Auditor General's reporting, though, it's difficult to say that Goudie and Hickey didn't appreciate that by submitting two separate claims using two different means of documentation for the same service that they were doing something that was definitely not kosher.
Premier Danny Williams has tried to apply another frame to these most recent accusations as part of his effort to tamp down the scandal that has now embraced his own ministry directly.
Curious to see experienced reporters accepting the Premier's explanations before they saw the details of what is alleged to have occurred. It'll be more curious if they stick to the same interpretation now that they have seen more information.
Among the curiosities in the latest portion of the House of Assembly spending scandal:
- A member of the legislature reimbursed for a meal dated three months before she was first elected.
- Two members of the legislature submitting different claim forms for the same service and being paid for both. Sometimes the payment was on the same day; sometimes the payments came weeks apart.
- Credit card receipts or debit receipts submitted for meal claims showing one amount; the restaurant invoice submitted for the same meal on a separate invoice showing a different amount.
- One member receiving double payment of per diems for meals and accommodations normally paid when the House is in session, for dates when the House was not sitting.
- Double claiming $775 in donations to various groups, one donation being for $500.
- A member claiming three days of per diems and receiving double payment ten days apart.
- A member submitting two separate claims for a $500 donation using two different receipts and a cancelled cheque as supporting documentation. The dates on each of the three supporting documents shows a different date for the donation.
08 January 2007
Afrighting the ear
Lumber World has been running a radio spot on VOCM for way too many months now extolling the virtues of Bruce brand hardwood flooring.
There's some reference to Shakespeare and "trodding the boards", presumably to attach the hardwood flooring to some sort of elegance, grace and education.
Unfortunately this is a good example of a truly hideous radio spot where both the writing and the voicing wind up affrighting the ear of any listener with half a clue.
Not only is there a meaningless hodge-podge of some Shakespearean dialogue, one portion of which sounds like the prologue of Henry V, but the guy pretending to be an actor obviously has no idea what he is reading.
The word is Agincourt - pronounced "aazhincour". This guy pronounces it as if it were Jethro Bodean's way of saying "again".
Just so you get the point, here's Derk Jacobi's performance, from the 1989 Branagh version. No one's expecting the VOCM guy to deliver a performance worthy of one of the finer actors around, but at least we could expect that he could get the pronunciation right.
There's some reference to Shakespeare and "trodding the boards", presumably to attach the hardwood flooring to some sort of elegance, grace and education.
Unfortunately this is a good example of a truly hideous radio spot where both the writing and the voicing wind up affrighting the ear of any listener with half a clue.
Not only is there a meaningless hodge-podge of some Shakespearean dialogue, one portion of which sounds like the prologue of Henry V, but the guy pretending to be an actor obviously has no idea what he is reading.
The word is Agincourt - pronounced "aazhincour". This guy pronounces it as if it were Jethro Bodean's way of saying "again".
Just so you get the point, here's Derk Jacobi's performance, from the 1989 Branagh version. No one's expecting the VOCM guy to deliver a performance worthy of one of the finer actors around, but at least we could expect that he could get the pronunciation right.
No one said you'd asked for it, Jerome
We just said Danny would offer you the job.All Jerome Kennedy [right] did on Monday was confirm that Danny Williams hasn't approached him - yet - about taking an appointment to cabinet.
Ok.
At a Monday news conference, the Premier did admit he'd considered making Kennedy an offer, presumably that Kennedy couldn't refuse. But Danny Williams said he hadn't spoken to Kennedy.
Yet.
And then there's Dr. Fitz
Odd to hear a story on CBC Radio this morning discussing the activities of His Excellency the High Commissioner in Ottawa.
Fitz was left outside the office cooling his jets, reduced to offering to walk with the PMO staffer to his next appointment if need be.
Such is the impact Danny's man has on The Hill.
If they haven't already started, CBC Radio should expect angry e-mails flying from the Blackberrys at the Premier's publicity departments and threats of legal action from Fitz's legal counsel.
Fitz is nothing if not touchy.
Sources tell CBC News that FitzGerald — who taught courses at Memorial University before being appointed last year as what he at the time described as the province's eyes and ears in Ottawa — has not had a significant impact during his eight months on the job.The audio version had a bit more detail, noting, for example, that after Stephen Harper's trip to Dannyland in October, His Excellency was despatched to the Langevin Block to set things right with the Prime Minister.
Sources say FitzGerald does not have much traction with Ottawa mandarins, and lacks the power to negotiate on behalf of the province.
Fitz was left outside the office cooling his jets, reduced to offering to walk with the PMO staffer to his next appointment if need be.
Such is the impact Danny's man has on The Hill.
If they haven't already started, CBC Radio should expect angry e-mails flying from the Blackberrys at the Premier's publicity departments and threats of legal action from Fitz's legal counsel.
Fitz is nothing if not touchy.
He didn't say that before
Danny's threatening to stay around as long as it takes to sort out the House of Assembly mess.
It's not like he said that before.
No. This is a new promise to stay as long as it takes.
Don't think of it as used.
Shop-worn even.
Think of it more like a previously-loved comment.
Only driven by a little old premier once a week during a scrum during the latest jihad against foreign infidels:
Yeah. Right. Like that happened.
Of course, Danny Williams is fond of bitching about the burden he carries and mused out loud - after getting back from the latest trip to Florida for the weekend - about retiring so he doesn't have to slog away 24/7on behalf of his ungrateful subjects for the betterment of the province.
Heck, Danny's frustration got so bad before Christmas, he even announced his retirement to VOCM, albeit about four years in advance.
So we can all rest assured Danny Williams will be here for another term or four until Hebron is sorted out and the House of Assembly is fixed.
or he will be gone after the next election.
or not.
It's not like he said that before.
No. This is a new promise to stay as long as it takes.
Don't think of it as used.
Shop-worn even.
Think of it more like a previously-loved comment.
Only driven by a little old premier once a week during a scrum during the latest jihad against foreign infidels:
"I can tell Exxon Mobil that I will be in this office when this project gets done … If that takes 10 terms, and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador want to re-elect us time and time again, we'll stay here till this is done," he said.That's what he said in April, after the Hebron talks collapsed and Danny promised that in retaliation he was gonna "take ExxonMobil out."
"They won't wait us out."
Yeah. Right. Like that happened.
Of course, Danny Williams is fond of bitching about the burden he carries and mused out loud - after getting back from the latest trip to Florida for the weekend - about retiring so he doesn't have to slog away 24/7
Heck, Danny's frustration got so bad before Christmas, he even announced his retirement to VOCM, albeit about four years in advance.
So we can all rest assured Danny Williams will be here for another term or four until Hebron is sorted out and the House of Assembly is fixed.
or he will be gone after the next election.
or not.
AG Noseworthy changes rules as he goes
In the most recent accusations under the House of Assembly spending scandal, Auditor General John Noseworthy has once again changed the rules under which he is conducting his review.
In the original four cases, the AG levelled accusations without having completed even the most basic investigations. Each of the four accused met for a handful of minutes - less than 10 for Ed Byrne - and were asked to explain claims without being shown the claims in question. Noseworthy claimed at the time his legislation prevented him from showing the documents to anyone outside his office.
In the second round of accusations, Noseworthy met with the accused member of the House after making the accusations public. Noseworthy only got around to calling the MHA involved after he filed a report.
Now with the double-billers, Noseworthy met with at least one of them, show him the questionable claims and - solely on the basis of that meeting - is now deleting one of the fellows from the report.
In one instance, the member was paid for the same incident based on the receipt and the VISA bill. Why were they filed separately? It could indeed be an innocent clerical error by inexperienced staff.
Then again, it could be something else.
There is no reason to delete anyone from a report.
Rather, by fully disclosing the details, the AG could help us understand what happened.
Unfortunately, we have an AG who is acting as a law unto himself. The rules get made up as Noseworthy likes and, when it gets right down to it, his work seems to fall far short of any reasonable standard of performance by anyone in a comparable position.
Unfair? Unreasonable? Slipshod, even?
Yes. Without a doubt.
And today's revelations just add another straw to the already snapped spine of the camel bearing the calls for a public inquiry into the whole mess.
In the original four cases, the AG levelled accusations without having completed even the most basic investigations. Each of the four accused met for a handful of minutes - less than 10 for Ed Byrne - and were asked to explain claims without being shown the claims in question. Noseworthy claimed at the time his legislation prevented him from showing the documents to anyone outside his office.
In the second round of accusations, Noseworthy met with the accused member of the House after making the accusations public. Noseworthy only got around to calling the MHA involved after he filed a report.
Now with the double-billers, Noseworthy met with at least one of them, show him the questionable claims and - solely on the basis of that meeting - is now deleting one of the fellows from the report.
In one instance, the member was paid for the same incident based on the receipt and the VISA bill. Why were they filed separately? It could indeed be an innocent clerical error by inexperienced staff.
Then again, it could be something else.
There is no reason to delete anyone from a report.
Rather, by fully disclosing the details, the AG could help us understand what happened.
Unfortunately, we have an AG who is acting as a law unto himself. The rules get made up as Noseworthy likes and, when it gets right down to it, his work seems to fall far short of any reasonable standard of performance by anyone in a comparable position.
Unfair? Unreasonable? Slipshod, even?
Yes. Without a doubt.
And today's revelations just add another straw to the already snapped spine of the camel bearing the calls for a public inquiry into the whole mess.
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