Wednesday May 14, 2008
Spinks . - 11:20 AM ADT
From the weird story files, one can really see this from all sides. Here's a guy who at least claims he's responsible on the road with his skateboard, looking both ways, using hand signals and unlike a great number of his skateboarding colleagues (cyclists too) actually wears a helmet for his own safety.
The law in Fredericton though says you can't ride your skateboard on city streets along with a number of other things like sleds (imagine how quick you could get down the Regent Street hill in the winter though).
Lee Breen pleaded guilty but won't pay the $100 fine so the alternative is he spends 5 days in the clink which he prefers to do.
I see the guy's point to a degree but the law applies to all. Just last week I observed a skateboarder just about get nailed by traffic numerous times weaving in and around cars. It's just not safe for anybody and if Lee is let off, the roads become a free for all. When you're on a piece of wood with four little wheels weaving in and around traffic, you're difficult for motorists to see.
Unfair for skateboarders? Perhaps but so is ending up a smear on the road. Short of building an infrastructure just for skateboards, this law needs to be upheld. Sorry Lee, but if you're going to continue to flip off this law and not pay the penalty, figure out what the comfy cell is because you're going to be a return visitor.
Spink About It
Tuesday May 13, 2008
Spinks . - 9:23 AM ADT
Those are endorsements you don't need when running for City Council. Only 3 of the 11 candidates the Telegraph Journal encouraged people to vote for in the Saint John municipal election won.
The perception at least is that the T-J appears to be a little out of touch with the people and may be getting a bit of a backlash.
Spink About It
Sunday May 11, 2008
Spinks . - 3:02 PM ADT
What happened to the uproar over the sudden termination of the EFI program? Surely this issue hasn't simply faded away?
I have heard that the vocal outrage has become more serious and quiet... Another one of my friends, in the Military stationed at Gagetown, says its caused quite a concern. Families have considered refusing postings to New Brunswick and others have asked to leave the province early. All seemed worried about their children's ability to start or stay in an Early Immersion French program when they inevitably get moved out of province. Most see New Brunswick's volt-face on early immersion as a negative. I have heard the RCMP share a similar view.
New Brunswick doctors have already weighed in on the issue with the same concerns.
How many other people with careers in the mobile workforce now look negatively upon a transfer to New Brunswick because their kids will fall behind if they ever get moved out.
It really makes you wonder if they even considered this sort of secondary effect? I don't remember if the report ever touched it? Maybe they don't care?
Posted by kit
Spink About It
Thursday May 8, 2008
Spinks . - 2:22 PM ADT
Sonco Gaming New Brunswick Ltd. Partnership, composed of Sonco Gaming New Brunswick Ltd., Navegante Group Inc., Clairvest Group Inc. and 2050631 Ontario Inc. has won the government's approval to operate a casino.
A company named 2050631? Yeah I know numbered companies are common but it never fails to make me more nervous. Must be the impersonal touch of a number. Works for 7-11 though I suppose.
With New Brunswick being only one of 3 provinces to not have a casino you knew this day was coming but it still feels like we lost something with this gamble.
Spink About It
Wednesday May 7, 2008
Spinks . - 4:51 PM ADT
Let me say for the record that I think a lot of New Brunswick’s “Blogger General”, N.B. Cabinet Minister T.J. Burke. Since being elected in 2003, he’s matured as a politician, MLA and eventually as a Cabinet Minister. He leaves me with the impression that he’s the kind of guy who sits at cabinet meetings and when everyone else is nodding heads, he jumps in with, “New Brunswickers aren’t going to like this because….” I’m left with that impression because since joining the blogosphere, he’s written some great blogs. These aren’t regurgitations of Liberal news releases or self-congratulatory statements of how fine looking the Premier was today. These are clearly from the heart.
So I wasn’t all that surprised a few weeks ago when Mr. Burke obviously got his property tax bill and went “Whoa, this is ridiculous.” (actually the quote was that property taxes “suck”. See NB Taxpayer for his take.)
But now that plain lingo blog is gone. Zapped from his blog. Why? I have no idea. I can speculate that someone strongly suggested Cabinet Ministers shouldn’t be writing that their property taxes “suck” to he was directed to remove it. For some reason known only to him, the blog is now gone but I’m doubtful if T.J. thinks property taxes suck any less. He was right the first time and that kind of frank talk from our politicians is long overdue. I’m sorry to see he felt the need to remove the blog.
Update - The missing blog in question for your perusal. Why couldn't whoever put the pressure on T.J. to remove the blog realize they were just shooting the messenger and actually deal with the issue instead of wasting time to have it removed? The issue remains whether a Cabinet Minister is told to shut up about it or not.
Spink About It
Monday May 5, 2008
Spinks . - 9:49 AM ADT
I was thinking about this story, - here - when one of those Irving "What if" commercials came on...
It was the one where they re-arrange the bottom of the Bay of Fundy, post traffic signs and re-route the major super-tanker shipping lanes so that the whales can swim freely and uninterrupted.
And yet they can't do the same for a few birds at Cambridge Narrows. In fact they'd rather have the Migratory Bird Act rewritten so they can build a road right through some prime nesting areas...
I know, birds are not whales, but my "what if" is that Irving's message actually matched it's deeds.
What ever happen in this story anyway? Haven't heard anything in the news papers...
Posted by Kit
Crossposted
Wednesday April 30, 2008
Spinks . - 3:06 PM ADT
Note to those still refusing to leave their homes. GET OUT and/or prepare yourself! Government can't fix all of your problems. Those that think the government will bail them out (figuratively and literally) are setting themselves up for massive disappointment.
Update - Downtown Fredericton's resident blogger Charles Leblanc is on the streets (and in the water) taking and uploading excellent photos of the 2008 Flood. Check them out here.
Update 2 - How bad is it likely going to be? This bad.
Crossposted
Monday April 28, 2008
Spinks . - 11:32 AM ADT
It's a challenge for all on-line forums whether they be newspapers, broadcasters, or blogs (including this one).
What is free speech and what is just plain stupid.
I was reminded of that on the weekend reading the comments from the story in Abbotsford in which 40 were injured when the floor collapsed during a concert at a church.
40 injured and dozens of the comments were just plain idiotic. Obviously someone at CBC thought so too because a number of the comments were cleaned out.
I haven't deleted too many comments. Maybe a dozen and 11 of those were probably from the same person whose name I'll leave out but is familiar to many bloggers for clogging up their blogs with garbage.
My first preference is to pretty much let anything go but when it becomes way off topic, isn't courteous or is a long winded non-sensical diatribe, do I have to accommodate that? I wouldn't allow it in my house and if I was sitting having a coffee with someone who went off half-cocked, I'd move to another table. It's obviously a bit different for media outlets than an individual's own blog but...
By the way, our resident Attorney General blogger just realized property taxes in Fredericton suck. Lucky he doesn't live in Saint John.
Finally, thanks to kit who has been doing some guest blogging once again at Spink About It. Looking forward to hearing more from him.
Spink About It
Friday April 25, 2008
Spinks . - 8:11 PM ADT
I see the Supreme Court of Canada is practicing judicial activism again.
If these were cases brought forward in which the people were searched and not guilty I could understand. That would make sense but if that indeed happened there’s no way to tell. In this case they were both guilty as sin of drug possession. The police did their job and did it well by catching the criminal which last time I checked was their job.
Too bad the SCOC didn’t see that. Criminals must be rubbing their hands in glee tonight. Score another one for crime. Good work SCOC.
Crossposted
Sunday April 20, 2008
Spinks . - 3:00 PM ADT
I’m no great fan of the Moncton Times and Transcript (yes I know this blog runs on the T and T’s website). Back in 2006 two components of the T and T made my “10 people who are screwing up New Brunswick” list.
While their reporting is generally pretty good and fair as are a number of columns(my fellow blogger Brian Cormier comes to mind), the editorials often come across as vindictive and just as often out of touch. There’s a reason so many of their editorials regardless of how long they beat the drum fail to resonate with the public. The public by and large simply doesn’t think the same way as the top offices of the T and T.
I was reminded of this fact again this past weekend while reading the Sleuth which contained this.
“Perhaps our sterling crop of MLAs and cabinet ministers do need a pay raise.
Why else would a certain former cabinet minister and current member of the legislature be seen shopping the other day at ValueVillage?”
What the heck does that even mean? ValueVillage is a business that appeals to a wide variety of people with three locations in New Brunswick . Yet the masterminds at the T and T have just told all their readers that if you shop there you must be hard on your luck. (The Sales Dept. at the T and T should be cringing right now).
I’m convinced the T and T does this kind of stuff purely for shock value. That or they’re completely out of touch and could use some fresh blood and fresh thinking at the editorial stage.
On a more positive note still over at CanadaEast, Robin Hills et al have done a fine job giving the version of Spink About It there a facelift. Still not officially launched but they’re offering the public a sneak peek at the new look of the CanadaEast site. They’ve captured the fine look and feel Ian at Late Night did to Spink About It a year ago.
You may also notice the CanadaEast version is no longer called Spinks from the Right. They have been unable to find a left-minded blogger to fill the gap left by NB Politico so I suggested scrapping the former name in favour of my main blog’s title. They agreed so that’s that.
By the way blogging may be a little light over the next few days although kit has indicated he may jump in with some guest blogs.
Oh and please feel free to continue to shop at Value Village. The T and T might think less of you but really who cares?
Spink About It
