With an interregnum of almost two months, the time has come to once again begin a regular posting to VanRamblings.
The reason for the absence of VanRamblings since October 4th? In part, the cessation of publishing occurred as a response to a car accident the administrator of VanRamblings suffered on September 26th. In part, the absence of publishing occurred because the administrator had taken on an intensive month-long project with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation throughout the month of October (even bloggers need to put food on the table, and pay the bills).
Mostly, though, VanRamblings has been absent from your life because the administrator of the site has been involved in a union organizing campaign to afford employees at the Vancouver yard of Cardinal Transportation the opportunity to be treated with respect and dignity in the workplace.
For some insight into a current core issue which prevents the counting of the vote that was held in the workplace on November 23rd, have a look at this recent ruling of the British Columbia Labour Relations Board.
As it happens, school bus drivers in other jurisdictions are standing up for their rights, so there is hope for Cardinal school bus drivers (and aides) in Vancouver (although, to be honest, the Saskatchewan government is certainly more labour friendly than is the case in British Columbia).
VanRamblings is back, although posting will likely be only sporadic for the next while as action takes the place of reflection.
VanRamblings to Resume Publishing Later In November
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Later this month, VanRamblings will once again commence daily publishing. November has proved to be a particularly busy month for the administrator of VanRamblings, as the administrator — in what some might view as a foolhardy show of bravado — took on three separate projects during the course of the month, one of which would appear to be coming to a close this next week, another which is due to move into Phase 2 (with three more phases to go), and the final project ongoing but due for a degree of rationalization.
Details on at least one of the projects mentioned above will be published on VanRamblings towards early December.
In the meantime, you may wish to surf around the website, to gain a sense of just what it is we are attempting to accomplish.
Although the main thrust of the work undertaken by VanRamblings falls into the realm of progressive politics, we do not concern ourselves solely with the nature of social interaction in contemporary society. To that end, VanRamblings publishes regular, non-political columns, covering issues such as …
- Web-tech (Tuesdays), where we focus mainly on security-related issues, but cover, as well, the gamut of hi-tech and information technology. This column resumes later in the month.
- Television (Wednesdays), providing all the latest casting news, ratings, information on specials, and home entertainment-related issues.
- Video & DVD (Thursdays), reviewing all of the week’s new releases.
In addition to the regular columns, VanRamblings will continue its coverage of the British Columbia political scene (where coverage will ramp up dramatically as we edge ever closer to the May 17, 2005 provincial election, an absolutely crucial Canadian election), Canadian politics, the environment, and issues of concern to Vancouverites, where we’ll continue to cast a wary eye on issues ranging from development, the Greater Vancouver Regional District and Translink boards, and other political bodies, and more.
Please accept our apologies for the prolonged cessation in daily publishing. We’re on our way back. See you here later in the month.
Jon Stewart in a Dust Up on CNN’s Crossfire
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Seems that Jon Stewart is mad as hell and he just ain’t gonna take it any more.
Appearing on CNN’s Crossfire, the Daily Show’s acerbic host took Crossfire hosts Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson to task for “hurting America,” by failing to take journalism as a serious endeavour, by failing to hold politician’s feet to the fire, and by turning their show into nothing more than Spin Alley. “Now don’t you think that for people watching at home, that’s kind of a drag? That you’re literally walking to a place called Deception Lane?”
Both Dave Cullen and Salon magazine’s Charles Taylor weigh in on what Stewart accomplished by demanding that Crossfire “confront tough issues, instead of being the political equivalent of pro wrestling.”
Video of Stewart’s appearance on Crossfire is made available by The Free Speech Zone.
Harried Man Makes Rare Posting to VanRamblings
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Wonder what’s happened to VanRamblings, and why postings in October have been all but non-existent?
Following on the heels of the death-defying car accident of September 26th, the recovery from said jolting incident (which destroyed the trusty olde Volvo), as well as all of the attendant negotiations with the insurance company, the purchase of a new vehicle (well, almost) … not to mention work, work, work (October is always the busiest month for the administrator of VanRamblings) on three diffferent time-consuming projects, something had to give.
Thus postings on VanRamblings will be rare for the next two weeks.
VanRamblings will try to get in its licks on the coming election in the U.S. (read Talk Left’s initial take on the final Presidential debate), but not for the next while. We’ll see you in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, feel free to read through the topic category postings. Enjoy life. See ya soon.