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Columnist - Alex J Walling
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Written by Alex J. Walling
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Saturday, 07 June 2008 |
 A column on Rick Howe where do I start? This will require lots of space.
It’s interesting that although Rick and I have worked in Atlantic Canada for over 30 years I did not meet him until the half way mark of his CJCH career.
“Where’s Fillmore?”
That’s my first recollection of Howe.
Yes, “Where’s Fillmore” is what he used to bellow when he called the Atlantic Media Institute that I ran from 1988-2001. Somewhere in the early 90’s he first called and said, “Where’s Fillmore?” |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Saturday, 07 June 2008 |
When whatever that thing is on “Just For Laughs” (the program that seems to run ad nauseum on CBCTV and the Comedy Channel) appears on the screen and laments, “Mommy, it’s over,” it signals the end of the show. The little bit of silliness that distracts from some brilliant comedy performances, came to mind on Thursday morning when I read the Halifax Chronicle-Herald story, “Premier, party take hit in poll.”
It was a breakdown of a poll conducted by Corporate Research Associates from May 7 to June 1, whereby 1,203 Nova Scotia residents shared their thoughts with the pollsters about the state of provincial politics. The result, if you are a Tory, is downright scary. Why? Because, “Mommy, it’s over.” |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Saturday, 31 May 2008 |
Wednesday night, our boy Sidney Crosby put on a show. True, he does this most nights he laces them up, but on this particular night it was even better. As one writer put it, he called on his teammates to climb on his back as he carried them to their first victory in the Stanley Cup finals.
The young captain of the Penguins scored the first two goals as his club edged the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in a thriller. Yet this amazing feat went unmentioned by Don Cherry, as he gushed over the play ( all 8 minutes and 45 seconds )of Gary Roberts. Roberts, a journeyman player, garnered an assist. Cherry also enthused over Jordan Staal. Staal, at 19 one year younger than Sid The Kid, played a solid two-way game but was held pointless. |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Monday, 26 May 2008 |
The Rule of Three came into play this week, with three friends making their exit from this world. Superstition has it that bad luck happens in threes, whether it be household problems, natural catastrophes or death.
An article in the Dallas Morning News suggests that: “Christianity has the Holy Trinity. In the Bible, Noah had three sons, Peter denies Jesus three times, and there are three crosses on Golgotha, where the crucifixion of Jesus took place.”
Is there an inherent magic in threes or is it just folklore?. Whatever the answer, in three days I lost three friends. |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Friday, 16 May 2008 |
Lying on my back in a hospital bed in the Urology Section of the Victoria General Hospital, I thought, “What is all the complaining about with out health care system?” I had just come through major invasive surgery, and the attention to my needs (not wants) was incredible.
For six days the doctors and nurses on 5B met my every need and then some. It started the first night with a nurse named Wilf Carter. When he told me his name I expected him to burst into the “Blue Canadian Rockies.” He didn’t, but he was a compassionate pro like all the heath care workers I encountered during my stay. |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Saturday, 03 May 2008 |
I can’t remember when I have been more angry. Friday morning, I picked up the Chronicle-Herald and looked at the headline, “Gap grows between rich, poor Canadians.” No surprise there, I thought, and casually turned to below the fold. That’s when my blood pressure soared to unsafe levels. For somebody who has an impending date with a surgeon, that’s not a good thing.
“New digs, larger staff costly,” screamed the line over the story about that expensive ornament we call the Lt. Governor. In this case, the robes of the office are being worn by citizen Mayann Francis. She is looking for more than one million dollars to top up her staff. A staff that would include a master chef. |
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Columnist - Alex J Walling
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Written by Alex J. Walling
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Sunday, 27 April 2008 |
By Alex J. Walling
There are some things you can’t plan and a few weeks ago one of those happened to CBC anchor-reporter-producer Norma Lee McLeod. In television it’s called ‘getting a good visual’, could be a raging fire or some great sport shot. This Norma Lee episode was certainly unique.
Doing a story on the escape of convicted felon Jermaine Carvery from leg irons and handcuffs McLeod was shown in leg irons and cuffs. She went to the store that supplies the irons and handcuffs only to find out that no one could undo the handcuffs. |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Saturday, 26 April 2008 |
Just when I was starting to feel a wee (that’s a very, very, very little wee) comfortable with Rodney MacDonald, he opens his mouth and glibly tells the beleaguered taxpayers of Nova Scotia facing yet another gasoline price hike to “take the bus.”
We’re getting kicked where it hurts the most, and he, who last fall flew home to Mabou in a government helicopter, pissing away $2,200 of our hard earned tax dollars for his convenience, wants us to buy fuel-efficient cars and ride public transit. Has he, or one of the brain-cramped idiots who advise him, checked the prices of the hybrid cars? Most of us can’t afford the fuel for the cars we drive, and he wants us drop $50,000 for a new car. Actually, for that amount, you would get the bare minimum.
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Sunday, 20 April 2008 |
“Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. … It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.”
- Lee Iacocca
There was a great joke on Friday’s edition of Information Morning. A guy drives into a service station and said, “Give me five dollars worth of gas.” The attendant farted and gave him a receipt. |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Saturday, 12 April 2008 |
Every time I hear a politician lament the passing of a member of our military, I do a slow burn. It isn’t as if I don’t believe that they do feel genuine sorrow for the death of a Canadian serving his or her country. These tragic losses are difficult to bear, even for the most grizzled in our society.
However, rather than read a statement of grief, or table a resolution, it is time for those who lead this nation to do something tangible and downright meaningful for our service personnel. Today it would be for the retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. And, down the road, it would be a tremendous gift to those on the front lines today.
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