Harper's Hilarius Horror House of Frightenstein

Remember the old TV show The Hilarious House of Frightenstein?

It was a Canadian show made in the 70's, and continued in re-runs into the early 80's.  It starred Billy Van playing the majority of characters, plus special appearances from Vincent Price.

Early every Saturday morning was like Hallowe'en for one hour.  Mixture of comedy, variety, music (first time I heard Jimi Hendrix), education, and horror.

Sometimes Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Horror House of Commons reminds me of the Hilarious House of Frightenstein.   A mixture of absolute comedy and utter horror.  Unlike Castle Frightenstein however, Harper's House of Horror is real, with negative consequences for millions of working Canadians and their families.

The comedy: the Senate Scandal.  Really? Sounds like a school yard disagreement.  "he made me do it", "he told me to do it," "she did this first,"   No adults here, no one taking responsibility for their actions.

A mixture of comedy (for real? they can not be serious), and absolute horror about human rights: the rewrite of environmental laws, the treatment of First Nations rights, attack on women's rights, "tough on crime" laws, etc.

How ironic that the Conservative convention in Calgary launches today, on Hallowe'en.  And what do we see for the future?  A continued House of Horrors.

tell your people....

These foods should be banned from school...

Nutritional standards for schools have improved over the last few years, but there is still a long way to go. Further research studies into nutrition and learning show that many of the snacks parents are sending to school with their children are actually hindering their learning--here are some example of the high sugar junk.

Yoo-Hoo

(15.5 oz bottle)
230 calories
2 g fat (1 g saturated)
45 g sugars

I endorse chocolate milk at any age, whether it’s served as an after-school snack for kids or post-workout fuel for adults. The problem with Yoo-Hoo is that it’s not milk. It’s actually a bizarre blend of water, high fructose corn syrup, and whey—and a high-calorie one at that. If your child drank 16 ounces of chocolate milk, she would gain 16 grams of protein. Yoo-Hoo offers a paltry 3 grams.

Cheetos

(1 oz)
150 calories
10 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
250 mg sodium

How unfortunate that Cheetos—the only chips represented by a kid-friendly cartoon character—are among the worst snacks in the store. They’re high in sodium, low in fiber, and are made with neurotoxic monosodium glutamate. Plus, when the iconic orange coating fuses with fingertip oil, it forms a putty-like crud that affixes to seemingly any surface. Finally, if you’ve ever seen a kid eat Cheetos, then you know that a lot of finger-licking goes into the process. Now think about all of the pathogens in a classroom—that’s a lot of sick days on the line.

Buzz Hargrove--You've changed.

Yesterday on CBC radio I heard an interview with Buzz Hargorve regarding the current labour struggles of teachers and the provincial Ontario government. I almost threw up, I was so disgusted.

When I was much younger--late teens, early 20's, I admired Buzz Hargrove and the Canadian Auto Workers.  I looked at the CAW as what a union should be.  Active, progressive, educating members, getting involved in big issues, social justice and political issues.  Recognizing that a union should do more than just advocate for it's members at their workplace, but that the struggle of all working people is their struggle.

Then the fallout with the NDP happened....and Strategic voting happened...

Now, those of you that know me know that I am VERY critical of the New Democratic Party.  I vote for them--critically--as I am even more critical of the other political parties, the former unProgressive Conservatives, the Conservative Party (a.k.a. re-badged Reform Party), the Liberal party, etc.

The NDP has it roots in the labour movement, and as historically been the most supportive of equity, and worker's rights.  The Blue Scare, of conservative hysteria that lead to strategic voting to keep the conservatives out was a big mistake.  Look at the history of policies and procedures of the Liberals and the Conservatives, and their is little difference.  Both have a pro-business, pro-profit agenda.

But I digress (again).

Buzz was trying to tell teachers that we should resume our stoppages--go back to doing our volunteer (unpaid) activities, that we have withdrawn to protest the measures of our provincial government.  He then proceeded to tell us that we should WAIT for the next Liberal provincial leader, and try to lobby that government--negotiate with that leader.  Really?

Imagine the president of the CAW telling it's member's this:
"Well, our current employer has just refused to negotiate a new contract with us.  They have refused to discuss it.  They dictated what it is, and here it is.  They will freeze your pay.  You will also work 3 days for no pay (isn't that in effect a pay cut?)  The will withhold a portion of you paycheck each week, then shut down for two months over the summer, and pay you what they earlier withheld.  You will no longer get vacation pay.  You will get less sick days than you had before, and since you did not have short-term disability (you used to used banked sick days), if you get injured on the job, or get very sick, and use all of you sick days up, you will have nothing--good luck paying your bills.  You will show up early, stay late, and not get any extra pay--no over-time.

Everything that you have fought for, struggled for, over the years, you will lose.  All so we can give our rich friends even more money.

And what would the members do?  Probably strike, occupy, walk-out, just to start. Just look at the history of job actions by CAW members in history.

Buzz, you've changed--for the worse.

-d

Premier Dalton McGuinty--NOT a friend of workers!