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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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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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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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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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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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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Saturday, 05 April 2008 |
They seek him here
They seek him there
They seek him everywhere….
No, this isn’t a reference to the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel, rather to Jermaine “The Phantom” Carvery, who pulled a Houdini Thursday afternoon and disappeared into thin air. Sort of gives new meaning to “catch and release.” We’re not dealing with fish, but something is awfully fishy.
Question: how much does the Provincial Government pay Fred Honsberger to stand in front of the cameras and make excuses for the department he heads? My guess is something well into the six figure bracket. Ah yes, our tax dollars at work…. |
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Written by Alex J. Walling
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Monday, 31 March 2008 |
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By Alex J. Walling
“Take your league and shove it”, seems to be the message the Halifax Rainmen owner Andre Levingston recently sent to the A.B.A.
The ABA standing for the American Basketball Association was more like the Amateur Basketball Association in the slightly more than a year since Halifax has been involved in it. Over the decades I’ve followed pro leagues, minor pro, college, and even the imaginary pro hockey league where the Halifax Icebreakers were to skate in the new and improved WHA. That’s the one with Bobby Hull as commissioner. It never got off the ground and the only memory of the Icebreakers is a sketch of their logo. |
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Saturday, 29 March 2008 |
It took awhile, about 259 years to be exact, but we are finally going to begin to make use of the Bedford Basin and the northern part of Halifax Harbour. Gives new meaning to foot dragging. Ah, but I’m sure Lord Edward Cornwallis would be proud.
When I heard the federal government had handed out 13 million dollars as their share for the proposed high-speed commuter ferry between Bedford and the downtown, I said, “Finally, good for Stephen Harper and the Conservatives!” |
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Friday, 21 March 2008 |
It’s rather appropriate that Rodney “Fiddler” MacDonald and his apostles would choose to announce a bunch of new taxes on Maundy Thursday. Let’s face it, these guys (provincial governments) have been nailing us for years.
I can’t remember the last time a politician knocked on my door and, while asking for my support also said, “and by the way I’ll be raising your taxes and hiking user-fees.” Yet, since I cast my first vote in 1958, governments have, if nothing else, been ununcompromising in their relentless pursuit of my money. “Would you please cross your legs - we only have one spike left.” |
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Written by Alex J. Walling
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Friday, 21 March 2008 |
By Alex J. Walling
By now those who read the sports pages know of the passing of J.I. Albrecht. He was 77. Just about every piece I’ve read talks about his contacts with people in the game of football from the NFL, CFL and other pro and minor leagues.
The man had more connections than Bell Canada. While he is known for his works in football he had a footprint in Atlantic Canada and especially in Halifax.
My first football memories as a nine-year old growing up in Quebec City were of the Montreal Alouettes. |
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