I had a wicked flashback after watching today’s announcement of Canada’s Men’s Hockey team roster for the upcoming 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
My thoughts were of Japan.

The aftermath and dissection of the disappointment that was the 1998 Nagano Olympic Canada Men’s’ hockey team revealed a team roster decided by those who shouldn’t be in the position of making those choices, and spots filled by players who were more hunch than talent.

Overachievers who would never make the team in a game of 20/20 Hindsight played today – with all due respect to players like Shayne Corson and Adam Foote – were on that team.

The King of Failed Expectations, aka Eric Lindros, was made team captain over Wayne Gretzky. Mark Messier wasn’t even on the team.

Remember Rob Zamuner? Neither do I, but the Brass of the Day thought he was a key cog of the Olympic team.

Management gambled on a certain thought process, a system. They played a hunch and lost.

I can’t help but think of that team – and the national ‘what’s wrong with hockey in Canada?’ panic that followed up until all was put right again with Gold at Salt Lake in 2002 - when watching today’s announcement.

My first impression is that a Gold medal victory will owe more to luck and offensive, barn-burner 9-8 final scores than to talent. If the tournament, which is going to be played on the smaller N.H.L.-sized ice surface as opposed to the larger, traditional Olympic-sized dimensions, becomes a defensive battle, Canada will be in trouble.

The problem isn’t in goal. Filling this position is the no-brainer of the process. The trio of Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, and Marc-Andre Fleury is by far the class of the competition.

Up front, there are always going to be some debate given the depth of our national talent pool. Overlooked players such as Shane Doan and Vincent Lecavalier could have easily been on the list in place of others like Patrice Bergeron.

Inclusions like Dany Heatley, even with his controversial reputation, are good gambles by the group of Steve Yzerman, Kevin Lowe, et al.

It’s on defense that the real red flags emerge.

Actually, there is one tip of the hat I will make to the selection group: leaving Dion Phaneuf off the team could end up being the best non-addition made. I like Dion and his potential, but if there is any truth to his disruptive reputation, best he is not part of the team.

Regarding those who did get selected, it seems that gambling on youth and recent play over proven skill and history seemed to be the order of the day. The shocking snubbing of obvious choices Jay Bouwmeester, Mike Green, and even Robyn Regehr, in favor of questionable choices Drew Doughty and Brent Seabrook show that the management is following a certain mindset once again.

I say this with all due respect to those players, especially Drew Doughty who no doubt will be a superstar in the N.H.L. But at this moment in history, with our national game up for grabs in our own backyard, choosing him over Bouwmeester could end up being the snake that bites Team Canada in the ass.

We can only hope the policy of choosing gut feelings and possible flash-in-the-pan or not-yet-ready players over more common sense selections will foster better results than Nagano.

If not, questions will be asked about those in charge of the process. My own worries began way back when Kevin Lowe was named as part of the management team. Lowe is, in my opinion, the most overrated hockey suit in the business.

The post-finals hangover he suffered caused him to sign a slew of mediocre players to star-level contracts. He has a core group of overvalued, non-tradable players.

Lowe gambled and lost. The damage to his Oilers could take years to repair.

Rumour has it Team Canada’s Thinkers debated the last defensive spot into the early morning: the experienced Bouwmeester or the young Doughty. They chose Doughty.

Let’s hope their hunch outwits common sense this time. A Gold medal depends on it.

First it was the arrival of Danielle Smith to the political scene, then it was the the eye-opening opinion poll, followed by the embarrasing survey that showed Ed Stelmach to be the least-popular provincial leader in the land. 

Now comes more evidence that Alberta's lame-duck leader is swimming in the sea of fantasy with his repeated attempts to play down the impact of the swift rise of the upstart Wildrose Alliance party. 

Don't fight it, Ed.  It won't hurt as much.

I had originally decided not to write on this topic given that it’s a time of goodwill and cheer and all that, but there has been so many emails asking my opinion on Quebec and Ontario’s internationally public attack on Alberta at the Copenhagen climate conference – and Premier Ed Stelmach’s response – that I thought it would be easier to create a post than answer each message.

In case you missed it, delegates representing the two Eastern provinces went to the Copenhagen conference and proceeded to expose how opposite of unified Canada really is by using the global spotlight to refuse to ‘shoulder the Alberta oilsands burden’, all the while continuing to enjoy a share of the revenue thanks to such wonderful inventions as Equalization and transfer payments.

I guess the best way to respond to this is by looking at each province individually. I’ll start with the easier of the two: Quebec.

Going against the flow and creating conflict is nothing new for Quebecers. It’s understandable that they don’t really know which way to turn. Consider these poor folks and what they’ve been subjected to: they got their asses kicked over 200 years ago at the Plains of Abraham by the very same English-speakers who have been kissing those very asses ever since.

No wonder they have developed a ‘don’t-trust-them’ attitude. Get all you can, even by threatening to leave. Their stand against assuming any shared responsibility for Alberta’s Evil Oilsands falls into their usual modus operandi of being freely critical of the policies held by another part of the country, even when those policies are what pay for their demands.

Biting the hand that feeds you surely cannot be considered shocking, not coming from Quebec. They’re selfish. They like to bitch. They can’t even recognize a good opportunity when they face one, like being an ally with the only other province that believes in strong provincial rights – Alberta.

When I think about Quebec, and yes I have been there, I don’t ponder what they think of Albertans. I don’t care what they think about anything, actually. Until they sign the Constitution, they really aren’t a part of Canada as far as I’m concerned.

My only thought is how Quebec can have so many incredibly hot women, yet their men all look like Jean Charest. Jeez, even a half-decent looking guy from Humboldt, Saskatchewan should be able to get some trim in Montreal. Look at the competition, for Christ’s sake.

Ontario is a whole other matter. Like Quebec, they too have a penchant for slamming Alberta while enjoying the oil bucks and their associated benefits. Famous Eastern Canadian pet projects like forced national multiculturalism and bilingualism are bought and paid for by Alberta oil money, but that doesn’t stop Our Masters in Ontario from demonizing our industry and our province.

You’d assume that it would be the French Quebecers who would be guilty of treating Western Canadians with condescension and attitude, but it is actually those in Ontario who have the history of accepted stereotyping.

“…why don’t you Albertans just shut up and accept your national role...?” stands as but one of many great examples of how Easterners see Albertans. Shut up and pay the bills. You don’t have any power here, no need for equal political representation. Know your role.

That’s what their Copenhagen speech was all about – Alberta should know its role. Alberta produces the product so Alberta should be responsible for all of the costs associated with any carbon emissions accord. Ontario will still receive its share of dollars, of course…

So Ontario’s part in this is motivated by keeping the subjects in line. Again, no surprise there. Here’s a province that has been in the national driver’s seat since before Canada was Canada, and their grip on power is slowly loosening.

Let’s face it. Calgary is the new economic capital of Canada. Alberta is the economic heart of the country. Ontarians, especially those in cities like Toronto and Ottawa with their lattes and generations of pseudo-intellectuals, are in panicked denial of reality - their province doesn’t matter as much as it once did.

Really, if you could live in Calgary with its fairly mild winters, closeness to the Rocky Mountains, professional hockey team, and citizens who shower, who the hell would choose to live in Toronto?

The only surprise this generated was the subsequent reaction by Alberta’s Premier Stelmach. Perhaps ‘surprise’ isn’t the right word. What am I looking for….bored? Disinterested?

Stelmach dusted off the old separatist threat, claiming that such moves by the Eastern provinces would cause rise to independence sentiment in Alberta.

I have always found it interesting how the issue of Alberta separatism can be discredited by the ruling Progressive Conservatives one day, only to be held up as a viable threat to the province and national unity overall the next.

What’s sad is, even if you agree with everything Stelmach said (and for the most part, I do), the fact that it is coming from a leader who has virtually no homegrown support makes the message ring hollow. Does anyone take Ed seriously anymore? Anyone? Even within his party?

Threatening separation is a useless move, no matter how truthful it is. No one in the East will ever take the concept of Alberta separating as real unless it actually happens. They just don’t care.

Having a lame-duck like Stelmach delivering the point will do nothing to change their minds, either.

From my family to yours, have a safe and joyous celebration.

Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:8-14 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

In being witness to the plight Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach has found himself in, I cannot help but recall the final year or so of the Bush administration.

The similarities are there: a leader who once enjoyed stratospheric popularity experiencing poll freefall until public support is so miniscule that it all but renders the mandate moot; unpopular and controversial (and more often than not in the case of Stelmach, dumb) policies that have drained the reserves of credibility; a history of public relations blunders so rich that they have shaped (crushed?) public image.

But perhaps the most similar is also the most damaging: the unspoken common knowledge, from the media to the voter on the street, that for all intents and purposes the replacement has already been chosen and now all we are doing is settling in for a long wait until the current gang is gone – in the case of Alberta, a two-year running down of the clock that will seem like an eternity.

For the sake of clarity, I should say here that I’d take Dubya as my leader over Stelmach every day of the week and twice on Sundays. In spite of the similarities of the situation, there are many differences, of course. The Bush government, right or wrong, had direction. You won’t find any evidence of a ‘plan’ in the Stelmach office.

But I digress…

The latest buzz out of the rumor mill at the Legislature is that Ed is ready to pull the trigger on a cabinet shuffle. The P.C. spin doctors will try to apply the lipstick to the pig in various positive ways on this one, but to no avail.

Rarely do you hear of a government shuffling the deck when times are good. Except in the case of a long-standing run for one party in power or initiated by attrition or turnover, successful governments like to keep their players on their own squares and don’t want to rock the boat.

Obviously, this is not the case here. The Ship That Could Not Sink, aka the impervious Progressive Conservatives who have ruled since 1971, has hit the iceberg and is taking on water and Captain Stelmach is busy rearranging the deckchairs.

(Is the imagery of the Good Ship Wildrose coming by to rescue survivors too symbolic?)

The poll numbers are so startling and potentially historic that it has become a hot topic around the water cooler. The governing party is polling at 25%, which actually looks impressive next to the 14% the Alberta premier received as least-popular provincial leader in Canada – even Ontario's Dalton McGuinty got 18%, for God’s sake!

So damaged is Stelmach’s leadership that on those rare occasions when he tries to speak up for Albertans against the usual Eastern boogey-men, those few who even notice just don’t buy it, even if we agree with his point.

With the possibility of another 2+ more years of Stelmach rule, this could be a long and frustrating time of lame-duck leadership in Alberta.

And the band played on…

Along with the normal amount of reader feedback I got this week in response to my articles on the Copenhagen climate change summit and the damaging allegations surrounding Alberta’s Stelmach government and Bill 50 was an unexpectedly high number of comments regarding my suggested list of eclectic, obscure and kitsch additions to your DVD collection.
Enough cool suggestions were made by you that I have decided to add them to some of my selections which didn’t make my first cut and post a second list of titles that will add flavor to your home library.


Night Gallery (1970-73)

Rod Serling’s follow-up to the legendary Twilight Zone was set in a macabre art gallery setting that featured a painting depicting each episode’s story. Filled with eerie situations and nightmarish vignettes, the show had a short-lived popularity that fizzled by the third year. By then Serling, who never enjoyed the same level of control on NG as he did with on the Zone, grew tired of being ignored by the show’s executives and distanced himself from the project. The final installments of the show were actually cut-ins from a short-lived supernatural show from 1972 called ‘The Sixth Sense’.

Despite the stumble to the finish, Night Gallery contains some incredibly memorable episodes which often delve deeper into that dark, devious part of our imagination.

Watch for: a Who’s Who of guest stars, including everyone from Roddy McDowall to Phyllis Diller to a memorable Joan Crawford in the series fantastic pilot episode ‘Eyes’.

Trivia: The series pilot segment entitled ‘Eyes’, starring the legendary Joan Crawford, was director Steven Spielberg’s professional debut as a director.


Battlestar Galactica (1978-79)

The original that set the foundation for the creation of a remake two decades later that became possibly the greatest science fiction television series of all time (Battlestar Galactica, miniseries 2003, series 2004-2009). Born out of the previous year’s Star Wars sci-fi explosion, BSG was full of cute guys for the girls, cute girls for the guys, cheesy lines, great special effects, and all the other 1970’s-era cliché’s, from the music right down to the hairstyles (nice feathered look, Starbuck).

But unlike most other attempts to jump on the post-Force bandwagon, Battlestar was actually quite good. Like the remake, the viewers are pulled quickly and emotionally into the plotline when they are witness to a double-cross that results in the near-destruction of the entire human race by the diabolical mechanical Cylons. A desperate bid to find their only refuge – the mythical ‘Earth’ – is hampered by such problems as food shortages, lack of resources, and the never-ending harassment by those darn Storm…-sorry, Cylons who want the kill the last of the human race.

The original is far more camp in its demeanor than the darker later version, yet has ideas that work well. The whole connection to ancient Earth (Egyptian, Mayan, etc.) is a great concept, one of many transplanted onto the redo.

Watch for: the Colonial fighter ships called Vipers were clearly X-Wing fighter rip-offs, yet somehow seemed cooler.

Trivia: A short-lived (and poorly received) Galactica 1980 ran for 10 episodes in autumn 1979, ironically ending with its best offering “The Return of Starbuck”.

Futurama (1999 -2003, ongoing)

A futuristic animated offering by The Simpson’s Matt Groening about a 20th-century slacker/pizza delivery boy, Philip J. Fry, who after being cryogenically frozen for a thousand years, finds employment at Planet Express, an interplanetary delivery company in the 31st century. The usual double-entendres and college humor is mixed with a level of intellect not found with Homer’s gang. Lots of Groening-style subliminal gags and wordplay throughout each episode. Why choose this over the Simpson’s? It’s just cooler.

Watch for: the surviving heads of 20th century icons, especially Nixon in the hilarious “A Head in the Polls” episode. Nixon’s back!

Trivia: The show's title was taken from one of the main exhibits at the 1939 New York World's Fair.


The Hitchhiker (1983-91)

Another in the Twilight Zone/Night Gallery milieu finds Page Fletcher as this series’ Rod Serling, the wonderer-host of each episode. Stories of mystery and suspense with an un-Serling-like raciness, thanks to airing on cable. The rawer, grainier feel that was a consequence of a tight budget actually adds to the atmosphere. Great rainy-day viewing.

Watch for: the third season opener entitled ‘Nightshift’ features a wonderful turn by Margot Kidder as a wicked nurse.

Trivia: the long-running HBO series originated in Canada.

Letter to Premier Stelmach re:December 9, 2009

Allegations Against Department of Energy Officials

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - UPDATED

Premier Ed Stelmach

Office of the Premier

Room 307, Legislature Building

10800 - 97th Avenue

Edmonton, Alberta

T5K 2B6

Original sent via e-mail

Dear Premier Stelmach:

              RE: Allegations against Department of Energy Officials

Given the allegations made in today's Calgary Herald regarding a series of meetings on transmission energy plans and policies, I am writing to request immediate action from your office to address this issue.

When the Wildrose Alliance Party raised concerns regarding Bill 50, one of our main concerns was the lack of accountability and independence in the regulatory process. These concerns were dismissed by your government in response to questions from all opposition parties, many stakeholder groups and thousands of concerned Albertans. However, in light of the disturbing allegations that private meetings were held with businesses to "divvy up" about $20 billion worth of construction projects (with the companies who would benefit at the expense of ratepayers), we believe a public investigation must take place. It should be a great concern if this becomes the basis for system planning. This undermines the independence of the regulatory process and the body that is supposed to critically evaluate energy proposals may be called into question by the alleged actions and comments of Department of Energy officials.

To begin to restore public confidence and limit the damage, I request that you immediately suspend the approval of any permits related to the construction of new transmission lines. Until this matter is investigated, no construction should proceed. In addition, any engineering, planning or pre-work to prepare the routes must immediately be suspended and the government should not pay for anything until a full and proper hearing is completed.

Second, I request that you immediately ask Energy department officials to produce a record of all meetings held with government officials (both elected and employees) relating to Alberta transmission and energy policies since January 1, 2009. This should also include a record of the subjects discussed, who was in attendance representing the government and private interests and any commitments made by government officials. This will demonstrate to Albertans who may have unduly or improperly influenced Bill 50.

Third, since representatives of the government have been accused of inappropriate behaviour, we believe that decisions related to Bill 50 should be put on hold while this matter is under investigation.

Fourth, it is our understanding that Minister Alison Redford was advised of these meetings in late October 2009. Media reports indicate that she has acknowledged this, but that she was not willing to take the meeting. I do not know if she took any action, or if she advised you of any potential ethical breaches by other ministers or department officials. For the sake of openness and accountability, we believe that Minister Redford must also recuse herself from participating in any investigation.

Mr. Premier, action must be taken immediately. I do not question your honesty and sincerity, but the judgment of senior government officials has been called into question. The ability of your government to do business on behalf of the people of this great province has been undermined. We encourage you to move quickly.

I look forward to hearing from you regarding this matter.

Sincerely,

Danielle Smith

Leader

Wildrose Alliance Party

                                                

                                                    - 30 -

http://www.wildrosealliance.ca/newscentre/wap-news/194-letter-to-premier-stelmach-re-allegations-against-department-of-energy-officials

UPDATE:

The Wildrose Alliance has officially made a request to Alberta's Ethics Commissioner asking for an independent investigation to look into allegations of possible ethical breaches by government officials related to Bill 50 and Alberta’s new transmission policies and projects.

Here's Wildrose Alliance M.L.A. Paul Hinman's letter to Mr. Neil Wilkinson, Ethics Commissioner of Alberta:


Letter to Ethics Commissioner from Paul Hinman, MLA



re: Allegations Against Department of Energy Officials


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 9, 2009

Mr. Neil Wilkinson
Ethics Commissioner of Alberta
Office of the Ethics Commissioner
Suite 1250, 9925 - 109 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5K 2J8


Dear Mr. Wilkinson:


             RE: Allegations against Department of Energy Officials


A similar letter has been sent to Premier Stelmach on this issue by our Leader, Danielle Smith, and I am sending a formal request for an independent investigation to your office. A copy of that letter to Premier Stelmach is attached for your reference. By now, you may have read media stories in both the Calgary Herald and the Edmonton Journal regarding allegations of ethical breaches by government officials related to Bill 50 and Alberta’s new transmission policies and projects.

When the Wildrose Alliance Party raised concerns regarding Bill 50, one of our main concerns was the lack of accountability and independence in the regulatory process. These concerns were dismissed by the government in response to questions from all opposition parties, stakeholder groups and concerned Albertans. However, in light of these disturbing allegations, it is clear that the independence of the regulatory process and the body that is supposed to critically evaluate energy proposals may be called into question by the alleged actions and comments of Department of Energy officials.

Specifically, we believe that your office is the place where an independent investigation of this matter can occur. We believe that your office will be able to determine the process that was used, what comments and commitments were made by government officials and whether or not any breach of ethics or the public trust actually occurred.

In light of these very serious allegations we believe that the ability of the government to conduct business on behalf of the people of this great province has been compromised and harmed. We need to move quickly so that Albertans can know exactly what happened and if any unethical or untoward behaviour occurred during this process.

Thank you very much for your time and prompt attention to this request. If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience


(403-xxx-xxxx or 780-xxx-xxxx).

I look forward to hearing from you regarding this matter.


Yours very truly,


Paul Hinman
Deputy Leader, Wildrose Alliance Party
MLA-Calgary Glenmore


                                                             - 30 -

http://www.wildrosealliance.ca/newscentre/wap-news/195-letter-to-ethics-commissionner-re-allegations-against-department-of-energy-officials

It has become evident that there is a certain perk that comes with the job of leader of the Wildrose Alliance that isn’t enjoyed by those in similar positions in Alberta’s other provincial parties, including the ruling Progressive Conservatives.

Call it Reasons Why Danielle Smith Should Be Our Next Premier #424: She Says What Most Albertans Think.

During a Canadian Club luncheon in Calgary on Monday, the newest leader on the scene told those gathered she believes there are too many questions that still need to be answered regarding climate change before we can commit to any carbon capture or cap and trade programs.

And there’s the perk. Smith, speaking on behalf of the members of her grassroots party and certainly for many Albertans and possibly many Canadians, daring to openly question the plan to continue down the path the world has been travelling.

It is a bizarre time right now. In the past 25 years we have seen society not only come to accept the idea of human-created damage to our planet as being true and massive, but to ostracize, condemn, humiliate, and in some cases even sabotage the careers of those who dispute or question this ‘fact’.

The Cult of Gore has become widespread, indeed.

So when the inevitable Climategate happened, which turned the credibility of the most prominent pro-climate change scientists to dust, it threw the Climate Change Establishment (the same people who want One World Government) for a big loop. Right when they thought they had us, this happens.

Perhaps more telling than the actual contents of the emails (or the fact that the original data can’t be found/is missing/was destroyed) is the obvious snub Climategate is getting from the regular media.

We have a media that has bought into this concept to the point of promoting everything ‘green’, in exchange for a lot of other ‘green’. Along with others who have promoted this worldwide scare and at the same time profited from it (‘carbon credits’? Really?), the so-called ‘responsible and reliable’ news machines at ABC, CBS, and NBC have decided to ignore the elephant that has been discovered standing in the middle of the room.

Politicians and their advisors are frantically trying to decide if the public mood has changed and by how much, and even more critically trying to balance the appeasement of the people and the appeasement of the still pro-environment business community (aka: their real friend$.)

We are starting to see a move on that front, however. In Australia, the ruling left-leaning Labor government had its hopes of enshrining a new emissions trading scheme into law before the current Copenhagen conference dashed by their Senate.

Tony Abbott, leader of the opposition Liberal party (similar to Canada’s Conservatives) suggested that “…The Senate has delivered a big win to the people of Australia who have been saved from a massive new tax that would have been foisted on them without proper scrutiny.”

Abbott’s position on the question of global warming represents a growing number of Australians, saying that he was unconvinced by the science and called the argument for climate change “absolute crap.”

While Danielle Smith may not be that direct, she does join Abbott and other politicians who are now seeing the general public growing more and more skeptical of the so-called ‘unquestionable science’ of climate change.

New questions are emerging. Where is the original data? How long have the books been cooked? How many people made how much money off of this? If we all go completely green, one economy, One World Government, a total pro-environmental, anti-capitalist Earth…and the icebergs still melt and the ozone grows another hole, then what?

Here’s an idea for the now-useless Copenhagen agenda: instead of continuing to look in the wrong direction for a boogeyman and create Kyoto II, how about agreeing to contribute scientists and information to have an open and transparent international study of climate change? Instead of focusing on ‘mad-made’ problems, how about looking at ways of helping humanity get through natural changes in our climate?

Perhaps its time to pull your heads out of the (oil)sand.

Giving the gift of entertainment has become a popular choice at Christmas. Almost everyone receives at least one addition to their DVD/Blu-ray collection each season. Instead of the usual, run-of-the-mill flicks (how many copies of Iron Man do I really need?), I’ve put together my own wish-list of old television titles, ranging from eclectic to the off-beat to the obscure. Each would make an interesting talking-piece in any collection.



Space: 1999 (1975-77)

Some call it a kitschy classic, others call it just plain awful. This mid-1970’s sci-fi show ran two distinct seasons: the first had a very ‘2001’ feel to it that some felt was better and more cerebral than the second season, which saw a more ‘Americanized’ feel with episodes filled with more special effects and less storyline. The inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha might not have delivered Star Trek-like quality, but the show still is mindlessly entertaining.

Watch for: the fleet of moonbase transport ships called Eagles. They were a funky part of the show.

Trivia: Martin Landau, who played Commander John Koenig, won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1994 for his work in ‘Ed Wood’.


The Avengers (1962-1969)

Either as an entire collection or era-by-era, this 1960’s British spy show pre-dates Bond, which owes a lot to this classic. 1961’s Police Surgeon morphed the next year into The Avengers, which paired Patrick Macnee’s suave John Steed with Honor Blackman’s Cathy Gale. More a drama in the whodunit vein, the show gained some homegrown popularity during Gale’s two years. When she left to become Pussy Galore in Goldfinger, Diana Rigg took over as Steed’s partner. It was during the Emma Peel years that the show became a Cold War-themed spy hit, and forever set Steed and Mrs. Peel as the lasting image of the show. The final year of the show had Canada’s Linda Thorson playing Steed’s younger (yet more than capable) partner Tara King. Cancelled in 1969, this show still holds massive popularity worldwide (in spite of a shoddy attempt at a big screen Avengers in 1998). Mrs Peel, we’re needed!

Watch for: fantastic array of guest stars, including John Cleese, Donald Sutherland, and Christopher Lee.

Trivia: Three of Steeds partners have appeared in Bond movies. Honor Blackman (Cathy Gale) played Pussy Galore in Goldfinger (1964); Diana Rigg (Emma Peel) holds the distinction of playing the only Mrs. Bond (Tracy Bond, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service – 1969); Joanna Lumley (Purdey, The New Avengers) also in OHMSS, as a Bond girl.

The New Avengers (1976-77)

Patrick Macnee returned as Steed for a two-year run in The New Avengers, teamed this time with two partners: the male Mike Gambit and the hot-but-deadly Purdey. The show explodes out of the gate with a magnificent first episode, guest staring Peter Cushing (Grand Moff Tarkin, Star Wars). By the second season, however, the show started to wane. The last season had three episodes produced in France and four in Canada. Not the same feel, but it does have some good episodes and should be included as part of the set.

Watch for: Purdey kicking ass!

Trivia: Joanna Lumley (Purdey) went on to play the hilarious Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous.

The Kids in the Hall (1989-94)

Bizarre, disgusting, odd. And hilarious! If it’s true that American comedy jumps out and slaps you in the face, and British comedy waits for you to come and get it, then this represents ‘meet in the middle’, Canadian-style comedy. We are treated to skits that are weird, smart, and often both at the same time. From the annoyingly catchy songs to the all-too-familiar characters portrayed in all their horrible glory, the team of Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson create a work that stands with the likes of Python. Among the best Canada has ever produced.

Watch for: Scott Thompson as Queen Elizabeth. Perfect!

Trivia: Dave Foley stared as Dave Nelson in NewsRadio (1995-99)

OZ (1997-2003)

Named for the fictitious Oswald State Correctional Facility in New York State, most of the action of this overly gritty and realistic prison drama takes place in an experimental unit called Emerald City (“Em City”). Unique in that it presents ultra-realistic and serious scenes in a surreal environment, usually narrated by the character of Augustus Hill, a wheel-bound inmate. Full of hard-hitting scenes, some of which can be particularly difficult to watch, OZ is for adult viewing only.

Watch for: Great turns as guest inmates, including Rick Fox, LL Cool J, and Luke Perry.

Trivia: Many OZ regulars also appeared in various Law and Order series, including Christopher Meloni and B.D. Wong (Det. Elliot Stabler, Dr. George Huang, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), and Kathryn Erbe (Law & Order, Criminal Intent).

Call off the dogs, I'm back.

It’s been a while since I had the opportunity to write, the cause being a week-long jaunt into that surreal, multi-dimensional reality known as The Night Shift. Now as I use coffee and daytime television to realign my internal clock, I finally have the chance to sit down and work.

I’m kind of in the ‘a little about a lot of things’ mood, especially after a little break. Allow me to do a little housecleaning around the office as I give you my take on:

Copenhagen Climate Summit – After news of the Climategate scandal broke all over CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN…..sorry, I forgot that the national media chose NOT to cover the smoking gun in the case against the Global Warming cult…..anyway, isn’t this going to be kind of, I don’t know, awkward? It was bad enough that the purpose of the multinational conference was to create a successor to the miserable failure called the Kyoto accord, but now that the term ‘accepted science’ has been found to more resemble the phrase ‘fraud’ in the minds of many when it comes to the claims made by the One Worlders, it looks like one of those too late to cancel it events. Maybe the best agreement they could create would be to get some real scientists to do some real studies on the subject.

Climategate – has been talked to death, so I’ll keep this simple. Do I think it proves that global warming isn’t happening? No. Do I think it proves that global warming is happening? No. The fact is, all the leaked emails prove is what many conservatives and other common sense-minded people have suspected all along: the enviroNazi movement played a scam on the people to the tune of billions, if not trillions of dollars worldwide. Climate change has happened since before we were around. It happens, and will continue to happen long after we are gone. The result of the leaked emails is that the latest Y2K-style Scaregame has been exposed, and changed the issue that we debate from the causes of climate change to whether those who perpetuated in the hoax and then profited from it should be held to account (see ‘Al Gore’, below). All the hacker job has done is change which truth is actually the inconvenient one.

Afghanistan – Obama’s recommitment to the war in Afghanistan is one of the few moves in his presidency that I agree with. Come to think of it, it’s the only one. Anyways, it’s not like he had a choice. He dithered and waivered and hummed and hawed until he couldn’t put it off any longer. He took so long to make a decision that even the most pro-war, rightwing pundits were publicly pleading with The One to either commit to the war for real or have the decency to pull the troops out. Ignoring calls from your Generals is never a good PR move, Barack. It will be interesting to see if the Harper government in Canada will try to use this move to extend our commitment to the fight beyond the agreed 2011 deadline.

Al Gore – Three words: Egg. On. Face. You’ve made your millions. We were duped. Well done. Now, could you just take your wagon full of oils to the next town of suckers? Charles Adler said it best: "You couldn’t even win your own state (Tennessee)…you couldn’t get the votes from the people who know you best…” Bingo.

Michael Moore – Making a movie about the evils of capitalism, when everything you have – fame, fortune, all the free fries you can eat – is due to capitalism? Not good. You’re at about 14:59 of the Big 15 minutes of fame, my friend.

Stop the Cuts – Tough issue. As a fiscal conservative, my tendencies lean towards the ‘any cuts, while maintaining superior results, are good’ philosophy. The issue for me is the fact that we are facing this difficult decision at all. It is a clear example of the damage caused by Alberta’s Stelmach government’s habit of fiscal mismanagement, and another blatant reminder that the era of Progressive Conservative rule in the province is quickly winding down.

Michaele and Tareq Salahi/the Heene family, etc. – “Oh, great spirit of Aaron Spelling…if you can hear us,….come back to us and end this horrible thing called Reality Television…..it is driving people insane……all we have to turn to is 17 different versions of Law and Order with a side of C.S.I…….can you hear us?....”

…and the Last Word:

Christmas is almost here. Here’s to a wonderful season full of joy, kindness, and being able to enjoy a Christmas concert at your kid’s school this year that is actually about Christmas.