Canadian Thinker by Freddie P. | March 2007 Archives

March 2007 Archives

« February 2007 | | April 2007 »

« Page 13 of 13

Gambling Problems

March 2, 2007 @ 08:50

I have to laugh at the increasing number of anti-gambling commercials on television these days. The province is heading towards a huge crisis and it's been creating through government greed.

I'd like to compare it to cigarette smoking but I can't. Society was ignorant towards the dangers of smoking and by the time all the data was in it was too late to ban cigarettes completely. There was a huge industry at stake and too many jobs on the line, so the strategy was to educate people and hope the problem disappeared by attrition.

Gambling is different. When casino gambling was first introduced to the province in the early 90's they had the data. They knew of the problems. They were aware of the affects it could have on society.

But instead of resisting, they pushed forward and went for the dough and today we have an alarming problem with people addicted to gaming.

And the government's only response is to offer a few TV commercials about the dangers of gambling, done I'm sure just to so they can say they're addressing the problem.

I have to admit, I'm a little biased. I've never been much of a gambler and I can't stand casinos. The blinking lights, the noisy bells and the sorry looking buggers who are actually connected to slot machines with their credit cards make me feel sick to my stomach.

If it was up to me I'd shut down every goddamn one of them tomorrow.

Category: Politics | Stuff

Gene Valaitis Checks In

March 1, 2007 @ 10:09

I received this note from Gene Valaitis yesterday.

Fred:

I just discovered your blog thanks to the Lee Eckley posting about The Police. This is great Fred. I'm adding it to my daily read.

I live in California now and I'm a suit and tie guy way out of radio, but I love reading the SOWNY radio board and keeping track of who suddenly decides to, er ah, "RETIRE". And now I read your site. All the best-Gene Valaitis

For those of you interested, Jesse and Gene have their own website.

Category: Endorsements

Dan Duran

March 1, 2007 @ 08:06

I'd like some FreddieP.ca readers to do me a favour. I want you to go to this link and read the story, and then read the response from my good friend Dan Duran.

After that, I'd like you to take a few seconds and respond to Dan. I'm not going to because I've been up this road with Dan many times before.

Dan leans heavily to the left so we often knock heads over a few scotches while standing by an open fire and nothing is ever resolved.

Who knows, maybe you think Dan is right and I'm wrong - so be it. I'm just asking you to enter into a little dialogue.

Category: Politics

Boo Long Boo Loud

March 1, 2007 @ 08:04

It actually took longer than I thought it would. The hockey fans at the Air Canada Centre have decided Brian McCabe is the next marked man, the next player to be singled out for shitty play, and the next player who will probably ask to be traded.

McCabe got booed every time he touched the puck during Tuesday night's horrid game against Buffalo and he deserved it, in fact he deserved it long before Tuesday.

McCabe isn't nearly as good as Leaf management and his contract say he is and even though Leaf fans may be suckers, they aren't stupid. They know a bad defenseman when they see one.

Brian McCabe has become the latest Aki Berg and Larry Murphy, but he carries a little more baggage because he carries a much bigger contract than Berg and Murphy did.

Some might argue that Toronto fans always have to have a whipping boy and it just isn't fair, but to that I say bullshit. After you've been sucked into paying exorbitant prices for tickets and then have the insult of an atrocious game thrown into your face, you have the right to do anything.

Who knows maybe one day Leaf fans will wake up and rather than boo they'll stay home.

Category: Sports

Spring Hue

March 1, 2007 @ 08:02

I love this time of year. It's something about the way the sun hits the earth and the different type of light that's spread across the land and I noticed it for the first time yesterday.

I call it a spring hue. I don't even know if that's the right term but the fact that I bring it up won't come as a surprise to any of the fellas I used to work with.

It was an annual event for us. We'd finish a show at the Edge Studios at 228 Yonge and then walk out onto the street whereupon I would say "look, a beautiful" - and before I could finish saying it, the rest of the boys would chime in - "spring hue."

I can be rather repetative I know that and it was brought to my attention many times over the years. But to tell you the truth, I don't think they minded the spring hue thing because really, how can there be anything aggravating about a spring hue.

Category: Stuff

Simon and Me

March 1, 2007 @ 08:01

I don't watch a lot of TV outside of news and sports, but I do like to watch American Idol with my wife Delyse after they've whittled the field down to a digestible number.

It's a bonding thing for us. We watch the contestants and give our own opinions before Simon Cowell talks some sense into Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.

It's weird but I feel a connection with Simon. Almost every time he says what I'm thinking- although right now, I bet he's probably thinking what I'm saying.

They should toss all the white chicks.

Category: Television