Telecom Carriers Make Grab for Cash...

Recent articles in the Canadian media are pointing out an initiative by telecommunications carriers to charge additional fees to consumers and content providers. Citing increasing costs of operation due to high bandwidth demands of internet users the carriers want to stick it to the providers of internet services and content and to the end users!

Check out Michael Geists writings on the topic> Link at Bottom of page or www.michaelgeist.ca

I am a 30+ year veteran of the telecom industry and I can assure you that unless there is significant outcry from the public this attempt to gouge consumers and content providers will succeed.

The carriers are desperately looking for ways to compensate for losses in other areas. Lost revenue in PSTN, local access, business services and LD are all affecting the top and bottom line for the corporate entities. They are well represented in government through lobbyists and have a track record of beating back consumer friendly FCC or CRTC rulings.

The facts are that technology innovation is ahead of the traditional telecom carrier business model and the carriers are without a solid strategy to build their business in a competitive environment.

Innovators on the content and consumer service side are so far ahead and have such great momentum that the carriers cannot catch up let alone keep up.

Another reality is that there are already extra value for extra cost services available from the carriers. Low bandwidth broadband for consumers, high bandwidth broadband for users with more money and need, business grade service packs that provide better end user support and SLA's etc.

The logic of extending these pricing structures to other areas through add-on charges is something the regulators could be convinced of agreeing to. And I would be concerned that the regulations governing Tarifs do NOT adequately address this matter.

Not that I agree with the arguments of the carriers. I believe that the carriers are looking for an easy way out of a tough situation. Rather than dealing with the realities of the market and the business model they work in ( which pretty much dictates that at the end of the day if they want to win customers they have to provide better value than their competitors) they are seeking to have governments force consumers to subsidize their inefficient methods of operation.

Media Alert!

Watch out for the "New Urban Myth" being concocted by our Mainstream Media Mutton Heads!

What is it?

Well......Apparently the 'Pundits' are claiming and repeating as though it were a fact that "One result of the recent federal election is that Canada is obviously broken down the lines of Rural Versus Metropolitan cultures in politics!"

"Obvious?"
What is obvious is that This is of course complete BS! This is nothing more than self serving and simple minded analysis of our culture by people who have no legitimacy in the area!

Using the premise that election results show strong Liberal and NDP support in the Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal central urban ridings that this is "Proof" of such a social/political split. IT AINT SO! As in most nations across the globe Most Cities are much smaller than these larger Canadian metropolii and the majority of Canadians do live in Cities! Not to mention the fact that conservative voters increased significantly in these same urban locals.

So whatever the motivation behind this latest fabrication of our MSM don't let it fool you!
Canadians may be divided in their political affiliations but there is NO "Them vs Us" thing between urban and rural citizens!

What this Giant Load of Crap does for the MSM is offer any number of ways to spin and fabricate fake issues and conspiracy theories. And you can bet that if this idea gets any traction there will be lots of both!



Read Noam Chomsky, Manufacturing Consent
Read Robert Hughes, Culture of Complaint

the link below take you to archived posts with a Post on Reading for the Critical Thinker.

Something Not About Politics....for a change

Not to put too fine a point on this but.....Since when is Actress Oprah Winfrey an expert on or an arbiter of "Literature"?

Although her legions of fans apparently opiated by her image and "charisma" will buy anything she says, there are those of us out here in the world who don't buy it at all.

Author and would be literary celebrity James Frey was one of the beneficiaries of the "Oprah Factor" after she plugged his work on her daytime TV show. Sales of his supposedly autobiographic tale of drug addiction went through the roof and drew the attention of some curious folks around the internet and bloggosphere! In short order the independent researchers revealed that much of the book " A million Little Pieces " was less than accurate! Apparently embellishments and fabrications contributed to make the book more "Fiction" than cronical.

So, apparently after the controversy errupted the"O"s position has been to support the author, or at least defend her support for the author clsely followed by some criticism and denial of support for the author. I wonder if she still "Likes" the book?

My point in this little tale is that I think that Oprah Winfrey or at least her staff ought to make some effort to qualify their opinions on literature before they foist them on the unquestioning masses who are lapping up every last thing coming out of the Chicago media empire.
Just from a standpoint of maintaining credibility it only makes sense. I guess that a lot of people have been waiting for a gaff like this to happen and now that it has question every aspect of the marketing machine she has created. Actually, I suspect that "Her" involvement in the too good to be true success is more mythical than factual. An this is where the whole thing is going.

How much of the Oprah Myth is a construct?
Will this be the beginning of an un-ravelling like that which Martha Stewart went through?
Can or Should anyone take this kind of thing seriously?
How many other books that she plugged are as questionable in their value?
What about some of her pet "People" projects?
Is Dr. Phil McGraw maybe not all he is cracked up to be?
Will people ever stop to think before worshipping at the temple of celebrity and media dieties?




P/S

Now I'll admit that I have not read the book....and given the circumstances around its creation and marketing don't feel inclined to. But, I am curious about exactly how much of the book is a creation as opposed to being a tale of record. And I am neither recommending or not recommending it in any way to anyone.

Election Leads to Tory Minority For Nation

Well I can't say that I'm really pleased about the overall results!
However, My own riding of Winnipeg South was really a nailbiter with second time challenger Rod Bruinooge squeaking by incumbent and now former cabinet minister Reg Alcock.
Alcock basically blew his campaign with a poor showing locally in the hustings and local debates.
With time spent away from the riding helping other Liberals he left the door open for Bruinooge.
Not that Bruinooge is in for sure at this point because the margin was so low its open for a recount. I hope he will be able to maintain a healthy profile and earn a return in the inevitable next election.

The big picture though is somewhat disturbing with one question ringing in my ears.
That question being, Why do the people in major urban centres continue to elect these Liberal clowns? And what the hell is going on in Vancouver where over half the voters tossed up Hedy Frey and Sven Robinson? It boggles the mind.

Oh well.... the people have spoken!

More on the behaviour of Mainstream Media in the post election coverage.

For today I'd like to give the producers at CTV a slap for their blatant post election cheerleading and focus on Liberals. Their coverage today has been all liberal and interviews all liberals. What a travesty!

Can't Resist One More Kick .....

Reading Charles Adlers posting today...he put up a list of 218 reasons not to vote liberal today.

It's very clear and although similar to the list that has been on conservative blogs since November still a good read.....just in case anyone forgot how many times these cretins have given the finger or the shaft to Canadians over the last 13 years!

http://www.charlesadler.com/News/NPViewArticle.asp?cmd=view&articleid=729

Or the Link Below..................Go Vote !

Just When I Thought It Was Safe to Relax!

As I wrapped up my pre-election activities and prepared to get a good nights rest before that busy day tomorrow. I just did some browsing on some of my favorite media interest sites.
And what do I find......Of Course.......The Seeds of another Liberal scandal. This one involves a number of left wing individuals and their organizations, the CBC, Elections Canada and of course implicated once again by reason of association The LPC!
What's going on? Our children are being exploited at school in an interesting attempt to introduce and involve them in "The Political Process". What's the problem? The who and what that are sponsoring this program!
Read all about it at Angels Tread.....

Check out this Link:

http://www.canadafreepress.com/angels-tread/?p=20

Mainstream Media Is Contributing to last Ditch Efforts of The Anti-Conservatives Left Wing

Have you noticed how many headlines and story lead ins are bashing Harper this week?

I just watched the most egregious example of this tacit support for the left on CBC this morning.
Buzz Hargrove was being interviewed about the election and given plenty of time to air his views.
And boy was he airing!

His diatribe against Stephne Harper and the Conservatives was full of fear mongering about supposed social conservatism, supposed anti-business views held by conservative politicians with claims among other things that the conservatives are bent on destroying the auto industry in Ontario. The low point of this disgusting display of fabrication and falsehoods was his claim that Harper was the head of a "Secret Society"!

That so called secret society being the National Citizens Coalition no less!
Making claims that no one knows who was paying Harper in his capacity as head of the NCC and that this implies that Harper is bought and paid for ny some nefarious forces and waiting to spring his secret and hiden agenda on Canadians. What a load of unmitigated BS.

Of course there is nothing to be concerned about when left wing politicians receive support from self interested trade and labout groups! Which is by the way one of the things that the NCC exists to counter. Oh yeah Buzz knows who his foes are! What he does not seem to get is that many Canadians see through his self serving BS.

They Never Learn do They? The Big List of 200 Liberal Scams and Scandals

In the late stages of the Election 06 Campaign the Liberals and Loonies are pulling out all the stops to Slander and Smear Harper and the CPC. Completely ignoring of course the facts that led us to this election in the first place. Inventing scenarios that are intended to frighten the weak and the dependent the politcal left shows no regard for truth or respect for the intelligence of Canadians. So whats new? Thats exactly what led to this election in the first place!

They never learn do they?

Unlike the LIberals and their supporters the Conservatives do not have to invent or fabricate scenarios of what might happen should the others win this election.
History shows us all that:
1) History does repeat itself.
2) Leopards do not change their spots.

Therefore, we can fully expect that given the chance Martin and theLPC will continue to so exactly what they have done since 1993.
Here is a link to the list of Liberal Sins: http://www.conservativelife.com/blog/index.php/canada/2006/01/13/blogging_tories_challenge_a_history_of_s#comments

Warren Kinsella Hits Homer!!

My favorite pet peeve is media bias and someone who knows a lot more than I do has just hit that topic out of the park today.

Warren Kinsella who I do not often agree with is very familiar with Canadian media and an insider of sorts to be sure. I share little of his love for the left wing view of the world but I do share his disdain for the bloatted hangers on to political movers that populate our national media.

In his "Musings" blog (see the link: http://www.warrenkinsella.com/musings.htm ) he has absolutely defined the state of Canadian MSM on the relationship with with the LPC and especially outgoing PM Martin.
Although there are some comments made about the relative merits and reliability (bias wise) of certain Media organizations like CP, you can use this as a primer on how Canadian media has helped the Liberals horsnwoggle the public for the last 6 or so years.

I would go back further because unlike Warren K. I have no love for the Chretiennites or their leader. Neither would I ignore the history of Tory bashing that ran through Mulroney and Clark etal. But most of all lets not forget the crap that Trudeau got away with and the drum thumping bandwagon jumping cheerleading that went on throughout his "Reign". Yes the pompous prince, the Powerfull Pierre had so much positive and free PR spin that no one could ever have guessed he was not such a good thing. The sycophantic love for the LPC that grew out of those days was the sincure for the libs to this day.

However, we have now heard from someone with real "gravitas", a guy who is gifted with intellect and the ability to express himself and the message is chrystal clear!

The Never Ending Left Wing BS

It never ends....the convenient hypocrisy of Liberal and left wing ideology will always be forthcoming from the self righteous moonbats.

Have you listened to Jack Layton in the last few days?

Oh yeah those conservatives don't have "Canadian" values!

Lets just keep letting the fools know that "We are Canadian and These are our values!"

It is not the Jack Laytons and the Belinda Stronachs or the Paul Martins of the world that determine our values. It is "US" out here in the real world! Where the self serving moonbat BS is not appreciated.

And I suspect that I'm not alone when I say that I'm sick and tired of my values being called Un-Canadian!

If that pantywaist Layton would like to go a round with me he is welcomed to!

Me Too! Me Too ...I Have Ethics Too!

Well....within the week of Stephen Harpers disowning of a BC Candidate who faces criminal charges our illustrious outgoing PM Mr. Dithers himself has shown us that he too can take firm and decisive action on ethical grounds. What's the difference between this and the Harper disownment of Derek Zeisman for his failure to own up to his legal woes?
Simple and fundamental. Harper is doing and has done exactly what he said he would do all along!
For Martin and the LIberals this is a COMPLETE about face from their past behaviour.

Click on the link or see the excerpt below from the piece courtesy CP and Shaw News...........

Martin dumps Liberal candidate in B.C. riding after accusation of bribery

---

at 18:29 on January 13, 2006, EST.
By STEVE MERTL

VANCOUVER (CP) - Prime Minister Paul Martin dumped one of his Liberal candidates in British Columbia on Friday after the man was accused of trying to bribe the local New Democrat candidate.

In a news release, Martin said "it was in the best interests of the party that Mr. (David) Oliver cease campaigning as a Liberal candidate and that he not sit in the Liberal caucus should he be elected."

The move came just a few hours after the NDP publicized a complaint to Elections Canada from NDP federal secretary Eric Hebert alleging Oliver, the Liberal candidate in Abbotsford, offered NDP rival Jeffery Hansen-Carlson a job in Ottawa and help contesting the next civic election if he publicly threw his support behind the Liberals.
.............................And so on blahblah blah..................

How convenient that Martin and a couple of Liberals from a riding that has no hope successfully contesting the election against a Conservative shoe-in get to play Me Too with the tough love policy! What a wonderfull thing that they can now claim to have a sense of ethics and have taken the appropriate action. I wonder if this will mean that Dithers will dismiss all the culprits who are embroiled in all the rest of the scandals from the LPC......Including himself?

Don't count on it! These people are so entrenched in their self professed righteousness that you just know this is being done for show and only for show. Since the Liberals now seem poised to be tossed out of office in a BIG WAY we can count on their protestations of victimhood and charges of evil against the Conservatives ( and the NDP for that matter!) to go completely Over The Top. You can be shure that with no chance of being called on to actually live up to any promises or justify any claims they will be unrestrained in their willingness to make promisess and claims that no fool would believe. WE are shure to be hearing next about how they have become victims of unfair treatment by the media and their "Unscrupulous" opponents.

Well folks just remember the years of BS we have had to endure from the LIberals and understand that their demise is your victory! Justice at the hands of the electorate!

How sweet it is!

Lots of Noise and NO Substance

I've been getting tired of the election campaign stuff.
I don't know if I'm alone but since I have a pretty strong interest in politics and especially in THIS election I think that there must be a lot of others who are getting burned out.

The problem seems to be that there is really nothing new to add to the story at this time.

• All the positions seem to be out in the open
• All the predictable attacks and smears seem to have been regurgitated
• It's all starting to sound like a bunch of stuff where we've " Been there and done that already!"
• Polls as usual are being rigged, misreported and misrepresented in the MSM
• So Called "Debates" are as usuall meaningless events to provide politicians with stage to repeat themselves and MSM something to talk about ...thereby justifying their existence in some small way
  
• Local campaigning has been pretty silent which means that incumbent Reg Alcock will probably slide into another term
  

Good news....

• Harper has been getting the message out !
• People in general seem to be tiring of Martin's BS
• Blogosphere is thriving with lots of news breaks and some great POV
  
• My Local Candidate Rod Bruinooge seems to have woken up finally!

Great to Be Back! Welcome to 2006

So what happened over the Christmas season?

I did see one encouraging development and that was the " ITSCAM " becoming an election issue.

Will this be the last straw for the PR love affair the MSM has for the LIberal Party?

• Well it took them over a month to get the fact that this is a real story!

• Unfortunately, I noticed a tendancy of the MSM talking heads to take a defensive or appologist stance when covering the story.
• They are playing the angle that there is an RCMP investigation ( I'm not impressed about this because as far as I know there is no law against leaking government policy).
• They are not clearly defining the story as " A breach of Ethics " issue which is the real nature of the beast!
• I sense that there is an underlying strategy to difuse the impact of this story.

The MSM coverage so far has displayed:

1. Wilfull ignorance of the evidence and underlying questions.
   
2. Lack of attention paid to the outcries and questions of the public.
3. Imprecise, Incomplete and uncritical coverage to date....at least that I have observed.

So whats new?