Duffy scandal problematic on different levels

The fact Mike Duffy resigned, or was forced to resign, has many journalists talking.

Duffy was, after all, a journalist himself, charged with covering the kind of stories he now finds himself embroiled in.

Many scribes are incredulous Duffy did the very thing he would have railed against only a few years earlier.

Was it a sense of entitlement that had him charging housing expenses he wasn’t eligible for? He has said the forms were confusing. Well, he could have asked for clarification or help in filling them out. I’m sorry, but that is not an excuse.

He is also now saying that he will be cleared once all investigations are complete and that he will not merit criticism.

If you believe he was confused about expenses and forms, what about borrowing money from the PM’s chief of staff?

And was it borrowed or simply given?

He said the money came through the RBC. Well, technically, it very well might have if the money from Nigel Wilson was put into a bank account and Duffy accessed it there.

He refused to take journalists questions on the issue, starting from the time the story broke in the winter.

I watched a TV report where he was shown going through the kitchen at a function so that he could avoid the media.

One woman on a talk show Tuesday said it didn’t bother her where Duffy got the money as long as he repays what was falsely claimed.

But Wilson was covering Duffy’s fraudulent housing claim.

Do people not recognize that or is it that they don’t really care? Pay back our money and we’ll be happy. Wilson may be a great pal, but it’s not something he should have done as chief of staff.

Joining Duffy in the senate as an independent is Pamela Wallin, also a journalist, and also someone being investigated for her travel expense claims.

We really should stop putting journalists in the senate.

Unless of course, they come calling for me!

 

 

Is flying the flag of a terrorist group a good idea at any time?

I wrote a story about a cultural day at London Central secondary school that had a couple of flags that raised eyebrows.

Here is the link to the story on CTV London.  http://london.ctvnews.ca/claims-made-that-flag-of-a-terrorist-group-seen-at-local-school-1.1286537

I was told that Tamil Tigers’ flags were at the assembly. They were described by my contact as having a tiger and crossed bayonets.

That is indeed the Tigers flag.

While the principal said the flags were used at other London events, the question remains, should they be? And should they be brought to a school?

The Tamil Tigers are deemed terrorists in both Canada and the U.S.  They have been  involved in assassinations and suicide bombings.

My contact was shocked they were there, especially in light of alleged terrorists links between former South students and a gas plant terrorist attack. The thought was you can never be sure about anything anymore so caution is needed.

While Tamils in Canada use the flags, the Canadian government has told demonstrators in Canada in the past that having the flags of a terrorist organization does not reflect well on your cause. But police have said they are not illegal.

Protesters have said the flags represent Tamil Eelam, not the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, but isn’t that splitting hairs?

The flag was created for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, but the writing that linked the flag to the militant group was removed in 1990.  So same flag but no words.

I ask you, should this flag be acceptable at a school?

 

Bosma case engaged a province

The outpouring of support and resources to try to find Tim Bosma was amazing.

Everyone was and still is talking about the case.  Just this morning my neighbour wanted to talk about it.

We were in Niagara Falls last week and Bosma’s picture was on a jumbo screen with information about the case and imploring the public to help.

Well Ontarians did. Unfortunately it didn’t turn out the way we all hoped.

At CTV London, (where I am now working part-time as assignment editor, so send me your story ideas), viewers wanted us to cover more of the case.

What did you think it was about this story that made so many of us tune in and hope for the best outcome?

If you type in Tim Bosma, you get more than 95 million results.

Sadly, people go missing every day. Look at the three women found in Cleveland. Two received lots of attention and the third, held the longest, was just forgotten.

Wish all those missing could come back home.

 

London is getting the Memorial Cup

As my insider told me a couple of months ago, the Cup is coming to London.

Here’s a link to the story. http://london.ctvnews.ca/london-wins-bid-to-host-2014-mastercard-memorial-cup-1.1280569

Exciting news for the Forest City, coming the morning after the Knights win the OHL championship.

Will you be attending any of the 2014 Memorial Cup games?

Mother’s Day flowers threatened by frost

I bought my mother a pot of geraniums for Mother’s Day. They are a lovely, vibrant pinkish red colour.

But any potted plants purchased this past weekend or earlier are at risk for frost.

I was always told it is not safe to plant flowers in your gardens until the May long weekend.

It holds true this year as anyone who got a head start on the garden will now have to deal with covering up those fragile flowers.

Luckily, I haven’t started planting annuals yet. Hopefully over the long weekend I will.

I really enjoy gardening. I find it one of the most relaxing things to do, even while yanking like heck on weeds.

What did you get your mother for her special day?

Any plans to get busy in the garden soon?

Miracle in Bangladesh

In a tragedy that has had the world’s attention for more than two weeks, a miracle lifted the spirits of a grim nation.

The Associated Press reported that a survivor was found in the wreckage of the collapsed garment factory.

Giving only her first name, the report said the woman named Reshma survived by eating dried food that was in her area and drinking spare amounts of water with her.

“I heard voices of the rescue workers for the past several days. I kept hitting the wreckage with sticks and rods just to attract their attention,” Resma told Somoy TV.

When Reshma was found and freed, after 40 minutes, the crowd erupted there in wild cheers. Her rescuers said she was in shockingly good condition.

Reshma’s mother and her sister, Asma, rushed to the hospital to meet her. Can you imagine their joy? Like an Easter Sunday morning.

The death toll has hit more than 1,000 in the tragedy.

But for one day, the whole world rejoiced with Resma.

Art Christmas shared love of music with young and old

Longtime music educator Art Christmas of Sarnia passed away Monday.

His passion for music was limitless and he had no choice but to share it with others.

My father taught with Art at Alexander Mackenzie’s secondary school in Sarnia.

They worked with young people who had some learning difficulties.

It was a beautiful school and the staff were so friendly. I loved going there as a youngster.

Art also organized the Art Christmas Aggregation, using musical theatre to entertain the people of Sarnia. It was hugely popular. I went to these shows many times with my parents. They would always let me bring a friend and my friends would fight over who was going with me. The Aggregation lasted 23 years.

Art’s son Jeff, of London, is also a musician – composing, recording CDs and performing.

My condolences to the whole Christmas family.

I always thought that Christmas was an appropriate last name for Art. He seemed like Father Christmas to me, spreading good cheer wherever he went.

Here is Art’s obituary.

http://smithfuneralhome.ca/obituaries/item/41166-arthur-john-christmas.