Useless

12 Apr 18
22:00 hrs

     Have you read the local birdcage liner lately? Probably not. Nobody really reads a small town local newspaper anymore. Now, I happen to enjoy a good article that is insightful and incendiary. You know, something that gets you all fired up. I particularly like the musings of Christine Blatchford in the National Post. When that particular paper first came on the scene she was writing about Colin Thatcher, a prominent Saskatchewan businessman and politician. A great many people had forgotten the story of his rise to fame and the infamy of his wife's brutal murder. It's chronicled in the book, A Canadian Tragedy.

     The point is the local scandal sheet has gotten to be so thin on substance that if it wasn't for the obits I wouldn't bother to read it at all. It is published twice a week and there are flyers in both issues. It has become more of a flyer "vehicle" than a local paper. Do we need our local scandal rag? I think we do but I wish the writers and editors would find a local interest hook that will have the residents actually reading the paper. All we do now is look at the flyers and toss the paper.

     This just in...Paul Bernardo charge with weapon possession. So, Paul got caught with shiv. Big deal. Will they add more jail time to his already never ending sentence? Big deal. Take away some priveledges? That might hurt him.

     Some of you Dear Readers may not remember who Mr. Bernardo is. Let me refresh your memory. Bernardo and his wife were charged with the drugging, raping and killing of several young girls. The prosecutions case was thin until the wife cut a deal for a reduced sentence and informed the Crown where the video evidence was hidden. Nails in the coffin. Bernardo was swiftly convicted abd incarcerated.  So heinous was his crimes that he was placed in the protected custody wing of the prison where his moves are monitored 24/7/365. After about eight years he started complain that he had didn't like the conditions he was in, there is a portion of his cell that is not covered by cctv. Corrections Canada responded that if he wanted it they would relocate him to General Population, where his life would be permanently shortened. (Just a side note - Bernardo and disgraced CFB Trenton base commander Russell Williams who was convicted of being a sexual predator and murderer, had attended the same college and shared several classes together. Both indicate they did not know one another.)

     The weather here in the Valley has been just miserable. Not as miserable as in the Nation's Capital or in the Golden Horseshoe where they are being subjected to freezing rain and snow. Looks good on them. Just as long as they don't want to move West I'm happy.

     This past week I've been babysitting contractors working on the new Fixed Wing SAR training centre. If you've been following along Dear Readers you know my feelings on the choice of which aircraft was finally selected to replace the venerable CC-115 Buffalo.  A more detailed analysis is contained in my new book: "So There I was. ..Tales from the Flight Line". It's still being edited but hopefully it will be out before I head Out in the Weeds this fall. I'm sure some of the attendees will want a copy along with Wood Knocks and Tossed Rocks.

     My Lobster and I are going to see Ready Player One this evening. Before seeing the movie, I highly recommend that you read the book first. Our Junior Couch Monkey went to see it last week with the BOM. Under pain of severe penalties he refrained from giving up any spoilers. Tomorrow, regardless of the weather, we are heading off Island for a date day.