Well, hello folks!
Here we are, rolling into a brand new year! As we write this, it is only the third day of 2025. Already, we have blown apart several of our New Year resolutions. We haven’t done any pushups. No situps. No chinups. Hardly walked half the distance we said we would.
And of course, we are still munching away on all the holiday treats Santa left us. Still!
Here is hoping you are doing a lot better. We are going to try harder. Next week. Seriously!
On the subject of trying harder, if you were a homebody this New Year’s Eve, maybe you watched some of the usual shows on television. We didn’t even bother with the usual Dick Clark, or scenes from Newfoundland some of the networks served up.
Instead, we tuned into good ol’ CBC, which finally got off their corporate butts and actually presented a decent, Canada-wide coast to coast show.
CBC bashing is sort of a Canadian national sport these days. We are actually glad they made an effort. Finally. Might be too late to save the ship, but at least they made an effort.
Thank you!
Watching Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “take a walk in the snow” might be one of the most satisfying things to look forward to in 2025.
In Justin’s case, he likely would not follow exactly in his father’s footsteps. Instead, it would be more like, “I pondered my future while on my surfboard, waiting for the right wave to come in, and realizing whatever came, it would take me to new adventures.”
Or perhaps, “I was looking down the ski slope when I realized, no matter what the road below, it was time to seek new paths for myself.”
Ah, one can only wish! In spite of a possibility we might be rid of Justin, there is no doubt there is still a gang of horse manure peddling backroom connivers waiting to try to save power in Ottawa, no matter what it takes.
Remember Kamala Harris? You know, Cacklin’ Harris. A year ago at this time, she was the dummy who couldn’t string five sentences together into a coherent message. Even if there were the same number of words, Kammie’s mouthings came out as the proverbial word salad.
Yet, lo and behold, in the middle of summer the Democrat insiders had cooked her up to amazingly be the next president of the United States! Because, you know, Sleepy Joe needed a bit of a rest. Kamala was perfect to carry on the torch.
No nomination process. No polling the rest of party faithful. Just a good old palace coup by insiders. They had propped up Biden for years. Why not Kamala?
Backed up, in the actual election, by a $1.5 billion war chest that miraculously appeared. Apparently, they thought that was enough, since this time around, there was no way the semi-trailers and suitcases full of fake ballots would, under intense scrutiny, be magically appearing. And there were enough stupid media and gullible voters to carry the day. So, let’s party on!
Can the same happen in Canada?
Ballot harvesting might not be tried. But when central and Atlantic Canada have voted in Liberals to power in the past three elections, you can bet every lever and enticement is being pulled and offered to anybody, just anybody, who can swing a few votes.
And who knows? With enough people down east happy and willing to stand on a corner with their hands out, the Liberals just might pull something off. It’s still to be seen.
Don’t think the backroom folks aren’t working day and night trying to save their butts.
Justin, of course, probably already has his retirement home and vacation cottages already picked out.
While most “retiring” politicians move to work in the private sector, usually in some law firm they used to work at before politics, one has to wonder exactly what skills Justin would take to any business or even institution. A university with a teaching position? Some think tank, where he can put his vast international and domestic experience to work? Door greeter at a Walmart? A return to teaching drama?
For some odd reason, Joey Tribbiani on Friends trying to teach a class how to dance comes to mind. The only difference being, at least Joey had the smarts to run out the door when he actually had to show his boss some dance “skills.”
Justin has his inheritance money, plus a comfortable pension, plus no doubt other incentives that will keep him away from the food banks. He might even plan on staying in politics. Sure!
And oh look, there goes another flying pig!
So you think a column like this one you are reading is easy to write? Hah! There’s a lot more to it than sneaking in a few clean jokes from the internet. Really!
Well, actually, we could probably go to a place we could hang out with friends and acquaintances, and write about all the stories they tell us. Of course, there are a few problems with that.
First, after about two weeks the stories are all the same. Second, after about two weeks, it isn’t that there are no new stories, but we would never be forgiven for passing on ‘secret gossip’ that all too often actually doesn’t really have much to do with real life.
Which is why most of us news people don’t talk too much about news where ever we go.
But, if you are one of those people who just love to talk, no matter what, or just have an opinion, listen closely. We have a deal for you.
This newspaper is looking for people who want to practice their writing skills. You can write about local politics. You can write about local sports. Weather. Roads. Gardens. Birds. People watching.
If you are a regular contributor to social media in one form or another, give us a try. Half the world doesn’t pay attention at all to your online brand. Try talking to that half. Same with news about your club or society, write it up and send it in to us.
Best of all, unlike putting a post on social media, we will pay you! Not a whole lot. It’s just an honorarium. Enough to buy you and a friend a couple cups of coffee.
So get your name in the paper, in a good way, and promote the good things in our communities. From Peace River to Valleyview to Girouxville to Kinuso.
We are developing guidelines but send us an email if you are at all interested. Send to support @ citylive.com.
“God gave you two ears and one mouth. You should take the hint and listen twice as much as you talk. Speaking of that, don’t say ‘blah blah’ when just one ‘blah’ will do. – Grandma Smithers