Gold Medals, Gordie, Martha and Life

Great to be able to watch the Juniors breeze to yet another (15th in a row) victory at the World Junior Championships. I had occasion to watch the game with good pals the German Panzer (Willy Hoff), DDP (Dynamite Dave Petrishen), DB (Darryl Balasko) and T (Tony Balasko) with a slight interlude from our pal on Main Street Gordie Steeves and the City's Chief Mosquito man Taz (who was entertaining a sweet young lass at the next table). The event brought back good memories as DB, T and I (along with the Portugese Prince Shtev) had watched the Gold medal game - live - one row up from the off duty Russian referees in Grand Forks just 2 short years ago. Good to wave the flag, wear our game day gear and cheer on our country. We all brought prognostications of a Canada presence in the Wednesday Semi Final and Friday Gold medal games. On the other end of life but equally therapeutic was knowing that true evil on our planet is dealt with severe prejudice as Saddam Hussein was hung yesterday. Our world is safer, better place with him not in it. Now the manner and process for emancipating his evil will be debated for some time and as a Canadian Roman Catholic I have deep and sacred respect for life and my fellow human beings but Saddam was pure and undiluted evil to the core. I do not partake in the "eye for an eye" old testament scripture but I do agree with protecting our world from evil.

Browner Gender Balanced Bouquets for the Year 2006
Female - Martha Hall Findlay she has changed the landscape of women in politics and within the Liberal Party of Canada and will be counted on for a major role in leading the party to government. She has her challenges and trusting and bringing close advisors into her thinking to better support her is one. She will be a force in the immediate future of Liberals in Canada. She will recruit great people and create good policy and will be a major player in shaping party dynamics as she did on the faithful Saturday Morning in December. The bus is gone but the drive is alive in '07!!!

Male - Gordie Steeves- The largest number of votes of any councillor and biggest win at Main Street plus a real ability to bring people together. 2007 will be his stepping out year as he is up to be the next President of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities. After 6 years at City Hall what will be his next step? Many speculate Mayor and the people around Sam Katz are hesitant to bring him in tight as a result. Others state Liberal Member of Parliament Winnipeg South and still others say a "legal beagle" with might on Broadway as a member of Hugh's team not Jon's. He has his faults and I hope he will grow as a political leader and not just a representative of the great people of St. Vital but the man is good. Whatever path he charts he has an extremely capable ability to achieve electoral wins and has the "smell of success" about him. Gord is a guy who sees the good in people and is one of the good guys.

A Reflection on '06 and the impending new Canadian Challenge

This time of the year is always a great time to dissect the year that was and what might have been. I was particularly taken by a story a friend shared with me. Her niece, while happy to be alive and utilizing all the great new technologies at our finger tips JUST could not understand that different etiquette's exist and should be respected. The gal, a thriving 14, was at RWB and being unable to take the time to appreciate the performance and event became rather enthralled in texting her pals. When asked, politely and without direction, to perhaps ejnoy the performance and put away her phone she became appalled and would not leave the texting. My question - have we gone so far with tech toys that we no longer appreciate the traditional stimulus of a wonderful performance? OR are we, as a Canadian Society, just so self absorbed that we do no longer care what others think or how our actions affect them? Now before you answer I would simply suggest that at the crux of your answer is where we must move towards and challenge not only the leaders of tomorrow but ALL Canadians to become engaged with our country and way of life and not be bystanders in the cheap seats "yelling and cat calling" AND not trying to change our world. We must try to address this new era and try to make our society a better place to live, work and play. Deep but a real challenge to All Canadians to change the direction our society is headed from the "self absorbed stop-at-no-limits-for-my-own-pleasure-seeker" of the present day to a "new way" which encompasses some of each of our past victories - the "world peace keepers" of the 1950's, the "avante garde" aviators of the 60's and cutting edge innovators of the 90's ..what lies ahead for Canada and its citizens in the 21st century?

Martha's Big Red Bus up for sale on Ebay !!!

Sad news Martha's Big Red Bus is on sale on Ebay ..what a buy

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190063854904

Truly a sad day that we could not generate more revenue for the women of substance !!

Blogs are BIG with Canadians

A juicy little tidbit from the "Liblog King" Jason Cherniak - blogs are big with 60% of Canadians reading them ..here is the link for your viewing pleasure
http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/12750.asp

thought of the day ..I see my pal Ryan was misconnected on the flight to the "Gap" province but yet in his high finance kind of way uncovered a nice bit of cyber plagarism

Great to be alive

Lots of conjecture and opinions on blogs and their usefullness. My opinion is simply this I believe in the "good and just" nature of people especially Canadians dialogue is good and discussion brings about change and the more people at the table the better but RESPECT is not only requested but demanded. ...recent polls show Manitobans now have elevated Infrastructure ahead of Health Care and Crime as needing to be addressed. The ailing nature of Winnipeg roads has hit home and the Federal Government needs to take leadership and put money into ensuring we have safe streets to walk and drive on ...can you say Red Book and new policy direction......big birthday Bash at Baileys for the lovely Ms. Sheila Balasko she even gave a nice speech for those in attendance and WOW big turnout from the Gord Steeves Team ....speaking of Gordie he spoke at length on the Habs and their good start to the season..I agree BUT lets see it continue ...big controversy starting over at Aggy Canada employees taking up to four turns at the buffet lines around time and a healthy lifestyle initiative is needed especially in the "bean counters section on Main Street"...Question - what can we do to increase Liberal fortunes for Dr. Jon Gerrard and the Provincial Libs? - Answer start a multi- stakeholder committee to enforce some policy direction and creation and have non-political organizations buy in then back up the Mini Red Book with a stipulation that this must be done or the Leader changes..bold and innovative new and renewing ...thoughts?
Browners Bouquet - Sheila Balasko lovely, engaging and takes great care of herself..this girl has punch and pizzaz with a lively out look on life and can you say 29 and holding !!!

Christmas and Friends - Browner's Bouquet Joe A-L-O!!!

A pal is going through a divorce and he is in rough shape emotionally and spiritually..just a good guy going through bad times my heart goes out to the journey he is about to take .....his life..it does get better...it seems separation, bad times and divorce are far more prevalent then we know..challenges and how we confront these are keys to success in today's society...great turnout for Stepane Dion breakfast and real energy about change and renewal as the Tories dismantle the Wheat Board the Libs provide more support as former Ag Minister Wayne Easter was along with Stephane ..Browners Bouquet of the Week Joe A-L-O having just lost a loved one to cancer this guy steps up to the plate and gets personal having his back waxed for Cancer and still manages to be the best morning guy in the Winnipeg radio market keep it going JOEY!!!

Big Leaf Wins and Lots of Optimism

Well on the sports front Canada's team the Toronto Maple Leafs for the newbees are improving a HUGE win over the Rangers Saturday and a nail biter against Tampa Thursday spell good times for the Buds but some changes are still needed...man I tell listening to Joe A-L-O on 92 CITI in the am is awesome some great personalities such as Jimmy the Greek bring out some belly laughs on the way to work in the AM ..this morning he was talking about the Cincinnati Bengals and some nice comparisons on food and football such as "you can't hurry the curry" and such...just good natured "ribbing and laughing".. Joe carries the show..Coach has some good dialogue on sports and Olly and his news are superb ...
on the political front it is a time of celebration and join with friends and festive parties are everywhere..big turnouts for the Liberal family as Winnipeg Centre MP Anita Neville has her get together Sunday and Ray Simard in St B Big turnouts spell good things for the Liberal community as we move forward after an exhaustive leadership process ...the Manitoban Liberal community is alive and well...lots of discussion on Stephane naming Deputy Leader Michael Ignatieff - great move !!!! Next move should be Ray Simard as Whip and Ken Boshcoff as Natural Resources Critic..on the AGM front new date for next meeting Tuesday January 23 7 pm at Molgat Place .. everyone is singing the praises of Liberal President Sharon Appleyard .she is super and we need her for 2 more years so you heard it here first her ...lets start the move to keep her going ..ticket sales for Wednesday breakfast with Dion going very good slow start turns into a big end ...Wheat Board Single desk is here to stay and if the Tories take it down they will loose ..PERIOD!!! Adrian and Ward are here to stay!!!
Lots of talk about inclusiveness and the changes within the party new Liberal National President Poulin is really work hard to continue this with weekly meetings and calls contact and communication the key to any team
Browner Bouquet of the day ..Darryl Balasko "DB" as he is affectionately known by the large bench of pals - is a "go to guy" on policy and event management ..a great wordsmith he also knows how to bring the team to the game ..thanks for being you DB !!!