Give The Man His Due

I am admittedly quick to criticize where I feel
criticism is warranted.
Whether or not addressing misdeeds accomplishes
anything is most certainly a topic completely open to
debate. Certainly doesn't help me sleep at night
but that is not the issue here.
Today I want to pay a compliment or two.
First...I was bold, remain unwaivering, and harsh
in my recent criticism of my NDP MP on his all-
too-quick about face when the time came to vote
on Canada's ridiculous Gun Registry. Peter Stoffer's
vote allowed the Registry to live. Knowing how
our government works I see another decade or two of
pouring billions more tax dollars into something
that will have no impact on the average Canadian -
except to contribute to continued lousy education,
health care and a significant national pension program.
Like most Canadians I would not mind being as highly
taxed as we are, if our monies were being well spent.
At any rate...I do have to compliment Peter Stoffer.
I sent the Email as it appears in my previous blog -
and within 72 hours he was on the phone to me.
Clearly he continues to respond personally to all
communications with his riding residents - and he
thanked me for letting him know how I felt about
his actions and him. It wasn't a long conversation.
But I would like to think that in his position
I too would respond to calls both good and bad. I'm
not sure I'd bother.
Okay item second...if you check out the website
www.atlanticgolfradio.com you will not only find
all kinds of new, helpful, golf tips you will
also find a story of tremendous kindness that involves
a member at Oakfield Golf and Country Club and a
friend and former employee of the golf course whose
having a bad time with his health and finds himself
unable to " get out much anymore." Read more about
this on the "Links" page on the website.
This third item is something that will be shortlived
only because it involves an event coming this weekend.
I consider myself most fortunate to have been invited
a year and a half ago to join a group of mostly retirees
who get together once a week to play music.
Initially any thoughts of performing in public were
beyond consideration, but the 11 or 12 of us involved
have come to be known as "Good Company." We are now
performing at special local fundraising events and
other community get togethers - and I am having a
ball doing it. The music page on the website (or you
can just google "Don Grose Music") is a page
dedicated to a great group of people - a group of
people I consider myself most blessed to have come
to know - and a group of folks I look forward to seeing
anytime we meet. Check it out at your leisure.
That's it..I gotta go...but as Edison once said...
" I haven't made any mistakes...I've just found
a thousand ways that don't work."
Til next time...hittem long and hittem straight...
Go Tiger !

Violated

The following is the "nuts' of an email I sent to my Member
of Parliament this morning.
I am really pissed...I'm not against gun controls...I am against
the government putting billions of dollars behind a "long gun
registry" that never was going to work, is proven to have been
a waste of time, and does nothing to deter the gun - toting criminal.

"Peter Stoffer,

I don’t know what you’ve been promised – I am convinced you’ve been
bought.
I had never even considered voting NDP until I moved into your riding.
You impressed me as an all too rare politician of integrity and character.
I admit to having been fooled.
My lack of respect for public servants is the direct result of their irresponsible
spending of our tax dollars. The instances of our politicians directing hundreds
of millions of dollars to support toothless, worthless, ineffective “longgun registries” is criminal in it’s representative lack of accountability and personal character.
“Gun registry’s” accomplish nothing except provide a place for government
friends to be hidden from public view where they get a nice paycheck and
ultimately a pension for life. The Conservatives to their credit are trying to
reduce the burden in this regard.
Please provide me with both the authors and the final results of the survey
in our riding that led you to change your position. "Survey ???"
What a bunch of bunk !
You are the reason why participation in our electoral system continues to
decline…you have won your riding not because of the party you represent
but because your competition was at best unknown – or known and a
candidate of the ilk of the all too visible Gary Hines.
But with this one move – everyone I have spoken to feels as “violated”
as do I…Your about turn on the issue was not in my mind a change of
heart. It was thinly veiled opportunism. Politics…nothing more than
irresponsible, self - serving politics supported by lies and deception.
Very, very disappointing Peter…be proud…you’ve never had a higher
national profile – although I must say that most of the National TV
coverage painted you in a primary color of suspicion. "

This is going to be something that I am going to start doing on a
regular basis. I am going to send copies of this to the newspaper
with hopes they print it. It's high time we let our representatives
know that we expect more.
Watched the Leafs second exhibition game this season...Do I dare
feel encouraged ? Am I alone in wondering if Ron Wilson is the
guy ? I'm glad I missed their first game and the goals they scored
were less than classic - and that continued against Philly in game
three in London...bottom line...doesn't matter HOW you fill the
net - the only thing that matters is IF you fill the net.
Jose Bautista got his 50th Home Run for the Blue Jays this season
last night. Too bad Rogers has decided to make watching Jays games
on the tube something you'll have to have a subscription to do...
Do you get the feeling that there is no one out there that doesn't
exist to be the one that reaches into your pocket and gets your last
nickel. Dear Sportsnet One...I was a Yankees fan before the
Jays came along and for the price of your subscription you may
force me to join the millions who back a winner...I've watched a game
at the Skydome before, I will no longer use the stadium's most recent
name, and frankly, I think the Jays have a losing record when I'm
in attendance there as well.
Now that I have that out of my system...I will play golf twice this
weekend...I hope to inch my handicap down to a career low 5...
two games in the mid 70's will do it...if you don't hear from me
for the next six months you'll know I posted two games in the
mid 80's and I'm in a deep depression...or I have amnesia
and have forgotten how to type....or I've decided to launch a
coast to coast tour with my new band, "Ersel Twings Gwoup of
Stwings" and we're lost somewhere between and the Nova Scotia
New Brunswick border...
Have to go...busy day ahead..Make it a good day..Enjoy it..
Relish every moment...and for Gods Sake don't accept
whining as your first response... Maaan -UUUUp !
Happy Trials...

It's Gotta Be A Nightmare....

Everyday something - at least one thing - sometimes
significant - more often less so - happens that leaves
me shaking my head...For example.
Last evenning Charlene and I were watching TV - watching
a documentary on how a Senior Crown Attorney in Manitoba -
had falsely - not erroneously - but falsely - had a series of
unfortunates imprisoned for life for murders they had not-
and the Crown Attorney knew well they had not - committed.
They spent anywhere from 6 to 23 years in jail before
their convictions were finally overturned. They were
free....but so was the Crown Attorney who had withheld
evidence, paid informers to perjure themselves and
generally run amuck with our legal system. Makes
you wonder, with this individual himself not spending his
dying years in jail, who we think we're fooling in this
country even referring to it as a "justice" system.
Congratulations to the CBC for doing a nice job on the
Canadian Country Music Awards last night...seriously..
I was golfing yesterday with an individual - I will not
use the word gentleman - whose name I will also refrain
from using. I will say that this fellow has spent his
career in and out of the unsavoury world of politics in
this province, and I had heard rumours about his dubious
conduct on the course....but until I witnessed it for
myself I have to say I had had a hard time believing what
I'd heard. Until that is, he, with the backs of his
fellow golfers turned, attempted to tap in a two footer
- missed - and hastily put his ball back in it's original
position - and marked it. Then when his turn came he
made the second attempt and proudly claimed his par.
I could not resist the temptation and admitted out loud
that I was unfamiliar with the "do-over" rule and asked
whether it was limited to shots on the green or whether
it could be used anywhere. He didn't seem overly disquietted
by the fact that his blatant cheating had been noted by
those with whom he played..in fact he did it again before
the game was over and used his "par" to steal the honors
from the third member of our group who'd struggled all
day and finally had enjoyed a good hole...a legitimate good hole.
So much for honor, integrity and good sportsmanship.
I couldn't help myself...At games end I had to tell this
lizard that I had found this experience and specifically
his behaviour both shocking and offensive and beyond
anything I'd ever witnessed...frankly I don't think I
said anything he hadn't heard before...Astounding really.
I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that golfers will be
the death of the game.
I am the first to admit that I am probably a pain in the
ass on the golf course. While I try not to take things
too seriously, I am prone to "losing it" when others are
talking when I'm over the ball. I find it most interesting
that people, intelligent people, otherwise considerate
people, people who profess to know all the rules and think
nothing of talking about others who offend for any variety
of reasons, feel that what they have to say is of greater
importance and urgency than someone else's shot. These
are the same people who are most offended when they find
themselves in a divot or a bunker that was not properly raked.
We're not talking about people who are new to the game.
I wonder whether it is arrogance, whether it's just not
thinking, whether they are suffering from the same feeling of
entitlement with which Tiger Woods partially explained his
fall from grace, or whether frankly they've simply just stopped
caring. Doesn't matter really - the sportsmanship, and honor so
integral to the heart of the game are what suffer ultimately -
and that's too bad.
In Ottawa they're spending more time and money on the long gun
registry...Here is another glimmering example of why our seniors
live in fear of not having a roof over their heads or a dignified
level of care in their final years...why kids are going hungry and
not getting the direction, education, or lifeskills training
they deserve and why our veterans get treated like garbage.
I personally favor having controls on gun ownership...but not if
these controls are in the hands of our politicians. When are we
going to finally look at the bill the thugs in Ottawa are running
up over gun control and realize if that money were going into
health care, elder care, education, and infrastructure everybody
in this country could have a gun and no one would have a reason to
use one ! Look at how much tax renenue our three levels of
government raise each year ! What do we get for it ? And what are
we doing about it ? Canadian Business should rally and refuse any
increase in Canada Pension payments - Canadian citizens should
demand their MP's come up with a five year plan to reduce
the size of government by 30 percent and increase productivity
by 50 percent. Do Canadians need a CBC ? Do Canadians need a CRTC ?
Do Canadians need the Canadian Gun Registry ? Do we need to be
allowing illegal immigration ? Do we really want our politicians
spending hundreds of millions of dollars hosting lavish Summit
meetings ? I think the time has come we start demanding
responsibility and accountability of those who represent us.
Oh my...this was supposed to be a fairly mild return to the blog...
Maybe tomorrow there'll be something more casual upon which to
comment...and by the way...Rogers...I think your idea of subscription
"live" sports TV on Rogers 1 is the absolute end of blind greed and
shortsightedness....good luck with that.
Til next time...Happy Trials..
Don