Lowe’s pulls TV ads – and gives a Christmas gift to Target et al, Wajahat Ali, The Guardian: “The decision by Lowe’s, behemoth chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores, to […]
Norm Farrell
Gwen and I raised three adult children in North Vancouver. Each lives in this community, as do our seven grandchildren. Before retirement, I worked in accounting and small business management. Since 2009, I have published commentary about public issues at IN-SIGHTS.CA.
America’s turmoil taking it toward disaster UPDATED
At Truthdig, Joe Conason peels recent layers of respectability that hide a reprehensible man who happens to be frontrunner in Iowa presidential caucuses. The Bigots and Billionaires in Ron Paul’s Orbit. “For […]
Would-be skippers on the Ship of Fools
The day before making her official presidential campaign announcement, in Waterloo, Iowa, Michele Bachmann, who was born and grew up in Waterloo before moving to Minnesota, told Fox News, “John Wayne was […]
Better served by bird brains?
Our friends at the Blog Borg Collective noticed The Province displaying either low-class ignorant journalism or sophisticated and subtle humour. Apparently the newspaper was uncertain if the current session of the Legislature […]
Wish I could write like that department
Roger Ebert, reviewing The Artist, a film by Michel Hazanavicius: “At a sneak preview screening here, a few audience members actually walked out, saying they didn’t like silent films. I was reminded […]
Few shadows cast in North America
A Moral Giant among Pygmies, By Erich Follath, Spiegel Online International “Since last Sunday, the world has been mourning the death of Vaclav Havel. The Czech leader led a rollercoaster life that […]
Murphy’s laws always apply
Control system failed ahead of BC Ferry crash, Andrew MacLeod, The Tyee, Dec. 21, 2011 A problem with the Coastal Inspiration’s control system may have led to yesterday’s crash at Duke Point, […]
Help for the CBC on conflicts of interest
Read the original item: CBC reporter’s conflict of interest Regular readers will be aware that I filed a complaint with CBC Ombudsman Kirk Lapointe over the conflict involving Legislative Bureau Chief Stephen […]
Rewarding incompetence
William Elliott was the first civilian Commissioner of the RCMP. An immutable failure while heading Canada’s once esteemed police agency, Elliott departed recently. Like disgraced predecessor Giuliano Zaccardelli, this man with little […]
New pipelines hurt Canadian consumers
Cushing Oklahoma is a price settlement point for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) light crude oil and the town proclaims itself to be the “Pipeline Crossroads of the World,” However, petroleum stored there […]
On getting the news
Bill Bailey is an English comedian, musician, actor and TV presenter who often appears on Stephen Fry’s long running panel game show QI, an award winning celebration of the obscure. Bailey’s comedy […]
Breaking news from the DFO
Statement from the Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Keith Ashfield, on Negative Infectious Salmon Anaemia Test Results in British Columbia Salmon “After Canada’s reputation has needlessly been put at risk […]
Not everyone shocked by Cohen disclosures
From my November 25 piece titled To be different, we must do things differently: “Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, along with Chief Bob Chamberlin and Chief Marilyn Baptiste, executive members of the BC Union […]
"We’d be in shallower shit now if…"
One of my favourite Brits is actor/writer/comedian/social commentator David Mitchell. He’s been mentioned here before probably because, while I may not share his rapier wit, I do share his cynical disposition and […]
Vancouver Sun and Gordon Hoekstra: FAIL!
“On the left you can see yesterday’s Vancouver Sun cover page the day after more than 60 First Nations announced they will not allow the Enbridge pipeline through their territories, on the […]
CBC reporter’s conflict of interest
Read the followup piece: Help for the CBC on conflicts of interest CBC Legislative Bureau Chief Stephen Smart reports regularly on the British Columbia government. The “year-end views” interview with Premier Clark […]
In Memory of Christopher Hitchens
A Worker Reads History by Bertolt Brecht Who built the seven gates of Thebes?The books are filled with names of kings.Was it the kings who hauled the craggy blocks of stone?And Babylon, […]
Globe & Mail demonstrates what the press can be
Instead of being handmaids to the rich and powerful – the usual role of Canada’s media – the Globe and Mail offers Gerald Caplan’s commentary; Be very afraid: Stephen Harper is inventing […]
Equality before the law, maybe not
News item from the streets of America: Due to harsh sentencing, a disproportionate number of young Black and Hispanic men are likely to be imprisoned for life under scenarios in which they […]
Untruthful minister Don McRae must resign
McRae at BC farm of Norwegian company Greig Seafood British Columbia Hansard, October 20,2011 Minister of Agriculture Don McRae: “I’m pleased to say that over 5,000 samples have been tested for ISA […]
in-sights.ca 
Unfortunately, about 130 million Americans support Trump according to major polling organizations. That's particularly scary and reminds us of a…