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Americans, be vigilant. "Little Mosque" just the tip of the Canadian iceberg

Lalo Espejo
Dec 1st, 2010

 It's no surprise that American government officials are a humourless lot, but it never occurred to me that their humourlessness would lead them to believe that the plot lines of Little Mosque on the Prairie are insidious forays into anti-American propaganda.

The Americans are on to us.

In fact, seen through the proper lens, it's clear that there has never been a Canadian television program that wasn't a veiled criticism of Americans in general and their foreign policy in particular.

This  may be one of the most damning pieces of information in the Wikileaks documents.

The Little Mosque on the Prairie objection comes from it's portrayal of an immigration officer in an unflattering light when the main characters try to get visas. He's like a cross between John Cleese's Basil Faulty and Mr. Bean. Read between the lines, and you'll see that Canadians feel that American wheat tariffs are protectionist and aggressive. It's all right there. You just have to look.

Charisma and values are not mutually exclusive

Lalo Espejo
Nov 24th, 2010

Poor Lalo. This is what schlumpy people have to settle for.

Ian Reid responds to my article on my surprise that the NDP will keep Carole James as the leader for the next provincial election by attacking me personally, saying “When a middle-aged, schlumpy and just average comedian complains about a woman’s lack of charisma, my first thought is, there’s a guy who’s not getting a lot of dates.”

Yet, in a recent blog post he says: “Some people say that the antipathy to Carole James is based in sexism – that many guys can’t relate to her because she’s a woman.  I’m not going to make that claim.  It’s too easy and too simple.” So I hope he remembers to add an asterisk to that sentence. *unless, of course, I'm talking about Lalo Espejo.

If I called Carole James, or any female schlumpy and unable to get a date, I'd be the biggest dick in the world, and yet this his first line of defence? (although I do understand that the truth is the best defence against libel: Okay I'm schlumpy, so sue me)

Really, BC NDP? Carole James is your final answer?

Lalo Espejo
Nov 22nd, 2010

I'd really love to know what school of political strategy the BC NDP are from, because it's certainly not the one that teaches people how to win elections. The Liberals are on the verge of being neck and neck with the NDP in the polls, despite the backlash against them fueled by the HST and sustained by disgust over their lying and arrogance. And I'll tell ya this: If the Liberals elect anyone with even a shred of charisma, they'll probably win the next election, because that shred would be ten times more than what Carole James has.

Thanks for Nothing, Olympics

Lalo Espejo
Feb 9th, 2010

 One of these days, and I look forward to it, we're going to think about the fact that the torch relay began as Nazi propoganda.

Sure, we have a new line to the airport, and I bet it plays well in the Peoria that's in the tourists hearts,  but I can think of at least six NEW routes in the city we could have used, and more frequent service on the ones we do have.

But hey, who cares about the people who actually live here?

Other transit service has been cut to for the sake of the Canada Line. We should have called it the PPTL - the Peter to Paul transfer line. That leaves a lot of people still getting in their cars in this green wannabe city.

It seems every city endures a fiasco in order to host the halfpipe and men-only ski jumping, which is particularly galling in the snow-white games.

It's incredible how the leaders of host cities have a dip in intelligence when hypnotized by the trademarked rings - they're so precious

Please Don't Stifle the Australians!

Lalo Espejo
Feb 5th, 2010

The Australian team, who are now in the Athletes Village, unfurled a flag of a Kangaroo with boxing gloves from their balcony.

But it's not an official flag of the Olympics!

Team spirit at an international sporting event will not be tolerated under any circumstance.

Sheets will be handed out to all the athletes that will have International Olympic Committee [IOC]-approved cheers.

Deviating from the officially sanctioned expressions of support will be punishable by IOC law. You think Guantanamo is extra-territorial? J

Just wait until Jacques Rogge goes all IOC on your ass. It won't be pretty. Rogge is a count, for starters, and you know what that means. He is the eighth and current president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). And that's like being King.

IOC has said they'll meet within the next few days to make a decision about the Aussies.

Note to the IOC: Worry about children starving in Haiti and leave the Down Underlings  alone.

Public Displays of Affectation: Dave Zirin on the Olympics

Lalo Espejo
Jan 22nd, 2010

Dave Zirin in full animated flight at Simon Fraser Unversity.

Dave Zirin is a rare animal indeed, and a bit of a shit disturber. He's a "political" sports writer who isn't willing to let sports off the hook for it's potential leadership role in bringing social issues into the spotlight. What excites him about the Vancouver Olympics is that it's the first time there will be a 'convergence' of protesters, a la WTO in Seattle.

People who want to avoid any uncomfortable displays of protestation at sports events usually invoke "The purity of sport," making it sound as if sports is the sole bastion of the Aryan nation. One thing is for sure about the Winter Olympics - it's definitely a white affair. And in the history of protest at the Olympics, he reminded the audience of what was perhaps the pinnacle moment: Tommy Smith and John Carlos raising their fists in the Black Power salute on the podium to receive their Gold and Bronze medals at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

Olympic Shaming 2.0

Lalo Espejo
Jan 20th, 2010

  When we criticize the city or the Olympics for certain inanities (curtailing of civil liberties, washing away 'graffiti' because city officials don't know what art is, or using military-grade hardware for crowd control) it's because we want to live in a place that respects its citizens. If something seems silly, disrespectful or downright stupid, we feel we should...nay, we feel it is our duty to call them out on it.

That's why I find it interesting to see the comment sections of online media stories where citizens of the Pollyanna variety repeat the theme "the world is coming, so don't put the city down in front of the guests." Something akin to, "You shouldn't air your dirty laundry."

This, alas, makes no sense. In fact, if there's any positive outcome to be had from these Olympics, it's precisely that Vancouver will be shamed into changing some ridiculous laws or improving transportation systems for the benefit of it's citizens who are looking for something more to be proud of.

Suck on it, Latvia!

Lalo Espejo
Jan 14th, 2010

Every day there seems to be a new needle in our eye. The latest is the Cypress Moutain closure.  The slopes of Cypress were not meant to be in  Olympic' hands until February 1st.  If they close two weeks early at the behest of the iron rings then surely there was a clause for compensation. We'll  never know, though, because the venue use agreement is private.  Just add it to Vancouver's tab. We're good for it, right?

The sum total of security zones,  grafitti cleansing,  homeless cleansing, and asking artists to volunteer so that contingency funds can be paid sucks. But I still want the Canadian Hockey teams to win gold.

While there are many of us who voted "no" to the Olympics, that doesn't mean we don't want Canadians to win a medal in the luge. Nothing could make me prouder than snowshoeing gold, and the pride of saying, "Suck on it, Latvia!"

Team pride and a desire not to be tasered aren't mutually exclusive.  

 

Chickens End Vacation Early, Start Coming Home to Roost Before Olympics

Lalo Espejo
Jan 8th, 2010

Vancouverites who are looking forward to the Olympics haven't been thinking about the coming financial hangover, and there will be one.  Once the fanfare is done, and the Jamaican bobsled team is back home snorkeling for the rest of the winter, people in Vancouver are going to face the sticker shock, like they're at an Edmonton Oilers Christmas party.

One of the biggest cost over-runs was the Olympic Village, and the city is on the hook for $110 million. City Council had originally discussed the idea of having 252 of the 600 units be assigned as social housing, but that's not looking very likely. The city has to make it's money back somehow, and renting a unit to a low-income family just isn't going to cut it.

Amy Goodman Gets Brilliant Story Idea from Canadian Border Guards

Lalo Espejo
Jan 4th, 2010

Photo of Amy Goodman courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Well, it's official. Suspicion of criticizing the 2010 Olympics gets you on a watch list at the Canadian border. Want to come to Canada and discuss the environmental shame that is the tar sands? Go ahead. Want to meddle in Canadian military policy in Afghanistan? Fill your boots. Want to criticize the Government's position on Global Warming? Whatever, dude.

 

But if you cross the border and you've got that look on your face that says “The ice on the luge track might be a bit slushy if El Niño makes its way through,” then watch out! The Canadian Border Services Agency will not tolerate any Olympic dissent!

 

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