The Plight of the Unionized Worker

The travels imposed on me the last few weeks has hampered my time allotted to this blog but I don’t believe I have offended too many. Travel has not limited my time towards reading the local paper though and one of the most interesting issues, for me anyway, has been the conversations about double-breasting.
If you recall, last summer Justice and Consumer Affairs Minister, T. J. Burke, introduced a new Labour Act designed to stop construction-company owners from opening a second non-union company after the original operation becomes unionized.
As someone who has worker experience in Ontario mines, Alberta oil and construction in BC and the Maritimes, I applauded this decision with enthusiasm. Working on construction fields, oil fields and underground poses extreme dangers for its workers. Cold, heat, long hours, smoke, fire, wind, rain and I could keep going on, are all obstructions that a field worker must deal with. There is great pride in working with your hands, with your body, and seeing your accomplishments grow before your eyes.
Unfortunately, the construction industry is a very demanding one. Everyone wants things made quick and fast. Time is money!! It is also the most cut-throat business I have ever witness. Companies will threaten you, co-workers will backstab you and supervisors will step on you, literally. I am a union man and very proud of it. What is going on in New Brunswick right now is fantastic. This little province is in the beginning of great things to come, lots of construction, lots of work and lots of opportunities which translate into lots of money. But with money comes greed. I’ve seen guys connive their way into working 26-28 hour days and I’ve seen supervisors bully guys into working extra hours at straight time. Small construction companies will survive with ease this economic growth because there will always be someone who’s willing to pay. Time is money! Big companies will hire small companies to get their work done on time. It’s always worked this way and it always will.
In the Telegraph-Journal on Sept. 23, Executive director of the Saint John Construction Association, Pat Darrah, said the double-breasting legislation was "overkill."
I totally disagree because I don’t support these money hungry executive of the construction business. He’s the type that like to say - if you don’t work my way there’s three more bodies waiting to take your place. There will be lots of jobs coming but we need to protect our unions for the sake of everybody.

Saint John MLA Abel LeBlanc knew what he was talking about. (See my August Blog) The return of the unions is very near my friends. We just need to keep the money grubbers out of them.

My Girl Fiday!

With all the rain, the cold and the early morning frost, I figured we were due for a bikini shot!
Ahhh! I feel warmer already.

An Apology from Canada

This dates back to 2004 but in light of the fact that Heather Mallick's riff against Sarah Palin and the USA is still making news http://www.cbc.ca/ombudsman/page/MALLICK-PALIN.pdf I thought it would be fitting to reprint here.

Well read blogger Spinks has covered the fracas several times with an abundance of comments from readers. http://spinkaboutit.blogspot.com/

One long ongoing comment was wether Mallick's vitriol laced tirade was in fact satirical humour or just plain nasty. I think Rick Mercer's sketch was much better example of shooting from the hip than Mallick's vulgarity ridden rant.

That's my opinion.

With that said enjoy Mercer's excellent humour.

A truly Canadian Apology to the USA, courtesy of Rick Mercer from This Hour Has 22 Minutes, CBC Television:

Hello. I'm Anthony St. George on location here in Washington.

On behalf of Canadians everywhere I'd like to offer an apology to the United States of America. We haven't been getting along very well recently and for that, I am truly sorry. I'm sorry we called George Bush a moron. He is a moron, but it wasn't nice of us to point it out. If it's any consolation, the fact that he's a moron shouldn't reflect poorly on the people of America. After all, it's not like you actually elected him. I'm sorry about our softwood lumber. Just because we have more trees than you, doesn't give us the right to sell you lumber that's cheaper and better than your own. It would be like if, well, say you had ten times the television audeince we did and you flood our market with great shows, cheaper than we could produce. I know you'd never do that. I'm sorry we beat you in Olympic hockey. In our defence I guess our excuse would be that our team was much, much, much, much better than yours. As word of apology, please accept all of our NHL teams which, one by one, are going out of business and moving to your fine country. I'm sorry about our waffling on Iraq. I mean, when you're going up against a crazed dictator, you want to have your friends by your side. I realize it took more than two years before you guys pitched in against Hitler, but that was different. Everyone knew he had weapons. I'm sorry we burnt down your White House during the War of 1812. I see you've rebuilt it! It's very nice. I'm sorry for Alan Thicke, Shania Twain, Celine Dion, Loverboy, that song from Seriff that ends with a really high-pitched long note. Your beer. I know we had nothing to do with your beer, but we feel your pain. And finally on behalf of all Canadians, I'm sorry that we're constantly apologizing for things in a passive-aggressive way which is really a thinly veiled criticism. I sincerely hope that you're not upset over this. Because we've seen what you do to countries you get upset with.

For 22 minutes, I'm Anthony St. George, and I'm sorry.

Arrogance diminishes wisdom

I guess Jeannot Volpé is at again. He has once again forgotten the inadequacies of his party as it basically ran this province into the ground and Bernie Lord kept working on his personal agenda. Anyone remember the Orimulsion fiasco? That was under the ever so watchful eye of Volpé himself. That’s the same Volpé who went on a 30 hour filibustering rant in the Legislature on the regional Health authorities this pass session. Money well spent I guess? Since Mr. Windbag himself can’t seem to see the obvious allow me to state that since January, the provincial government has collaborated with the regional council as well as the Labourers' Training Institute of New Brunswick to provide training to 362 New Brunswickers through the TSD program. Statistics Canada indicate that the number of employed persons in New Brunswick rose to 366,500 in August, an increase of 1,600 from July, and an increase of 3,200 compared to last August. The labour force stood at 400,000, which was up by 5,800 compared to the same time last year. There are 95 more physicians practising in New Brunswick now than in October 2006. The Department of Health's committed $13.22-million for the 2008-09 budget in new medical equipment and technology. And today’s announcement of the Benefits Blueprint which will see $19 billion in direct investment which will produce more than $40 billion of economic activity and create thousands of jobs over the next decade. And these facts are just from the September newspapers.
Mr.Volpé stated that “During our mandate, we continually invested record amounts, hired teachers and teacher’s aides, as well as provided more supplies and tools for our school, including lap top computers.” Not much for two mandates. I believe Mr. Volpé thinks we New Brunswickers can’t read and should abide to their old credo.
“Keep’em ignorant and in the dark.”
By the way Mr. Volpé, why haven’t you chosen a candidate for the leadership of your party, have you got some position lined up down the road?

The writer, Anthony Beal once said;
For one to expect or ask things of others that he himself, if asked, would not be willing to do or give, is the worst kind of arrogance.”

Sorry, but your weekly rant and rave hit a nerve.

That's my opinion.

It's Friday!!!

I love teamwork! It's what makes the world go around.

Decisions, decisions

I’d like to get much more interested in the Federal Election but I find it boring. I think Harper will be back, as a minority, and Dion will be replaced next summer as Liberal leader.
Right now, I find the provincial PC leadership race much more, er…entertaining?

I’ve read all three candidates’ platform, well two really because Alward hasn’t really released one. But I have read what his site referred to as “David’s Speech.” I’ve learned from this that David Alward knows “how to build a team.” From the endorsements I’ve seen it pretty well looks like old Bernie Lord’s team. Percy Mockler, Dale Graham, Rose-May Poirier, Paul Robicahud, Jody Carr, Trevor Holden and his mom, Carl Urquhart and even Elsie Wayne. So pretty well the same trail of thoughts from the Lordy-Lordy government. And he believes critical challenges are important like Education, Health care and the environment. Isn’t that what the Liberals are working on now?

Bruce Fitch; who cares what Fitch thinks, he’s just wasting his time because he doesn’t have a chance. Anyway, never trust a banker with small hands; they tend to take things in armloads instead of handfuls.

Robert McLeod; I think this guy’s the most noteworthy because I think if he wins, the PC party will go through some real changes. His platform relates to things like supporting senior so they can stay in their homes, training and re-training workers to grow our communities, renewable energy and upgrading our highways. Wait! That sounds like the Liberals Charter for Change!!
He wants a four-lane highway from Campbellton to Shediac and Fredericton to St.John but I believe that’s already in the works. He wants to re-introduce the Early Immersion Program, but to what? Lower personal income taxes, well that’s a gimme but where is he going to get the money for his changes? He wants to investigate the “economic potential for environmentally beneficial rail links.” I like that one, but that’s going to be big bucks. Then McLeod ends it all by saying; “This is what I believe.” Looks like Bobby believes in what the Liberals are doing now,eh?

But kidding aside I think McLeod would be a viable leader for the PC and a great adversary to the Graham government to keep them in check until 2010.

I know many people are frustrated with the present Liberal government but I do think they are doing some good. Here’s an article stating that New Brunswick was the “second-best Canadian province to invest in,” by an American economics magazine.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/416270

In today’s Gleaner, STU political science professor, Tom Bateman, said the Liberals earned a “solid B, for their efforts so far.”

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/418973

The Graham government has acted aggressively on tough problems but I believe they are right. There was a lot of room for changes since the Lord government basically did nothing the last 6 years in office. Changes, and big ones, are hard to swallow but I believe New Brunswick will be a better place in just another few years.
But remember...that's just my opinion.

Peace

Go Stuff It

- Stuff a Bus -

This Saturday, September 20th

At the Wal-Mart Parking Lot on Regent Street

sponsored by: Fred FM

Businesses, school children, customers, heck everyone!!!

Come fill the bus with food for

the Fredericton Food Bank

Suggestions: Soda Crackers, Kraft Dinner, Can Tuna
Can Meat, Soup, Beans, Bathroom Tissue, School Lunch Snacks

You get the picture right?

How quickly they forget.

You know what really grinds my gears? Politicians with short memories! I was reading the TJ this weekend along with long winded interim opposition leader Jeannot Volpé’s opinion piece
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/414012
about how Energy minister Jack Keir was leery of Dion’s Green Shift plan and “because of the impact a carbon tax would have on the province.” He was also questioning (mocking in fact) Keir‘s responsibility towards the best interest of New Brunswickers.
Anyone remember the Orimulsion fiasco??? That was under the ever so watchful eye of Volpé himself. Was dealing with a country of the verge of civil war in the best interest of New Brunswickers? That’s the same Volpé who went on a 30 hour filibustering rant in the Legislature on the regional Health authorities this pass session. That’s the same Volpé who referred some Liberal ministers to Fidel and Raoul Castro and the Moncton Irish mafia. But, when Mike Murphy referred to Volpé, Percy Mockler and Madelaine Dube as the Madawaska mafia! By golly he wanted to sue them because he has Italian roots!
I know these things go on from both sides but Volpé really gets my goat because he has the same arrogance towards people as Bernie Lord. He has been giving out his opinion in newspapers constantly for the last year with nothing but pure criticism and no suggestions.
Listen, I don’t know if the Liberals are on the right track but at least they tackled the tough shit; Education, Health and Energy. Time will tell if these roads were worth taking but at least they’re doing something.

Electoral Swap Meet

Ok, here’s a new one for me.
















http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/actualites/article/413148

Although this vote swapping is already popular in the United Kingdom this was the first time I ever heard of it. There might not be anything legally wrong with strategic voting but I am somewhat leery of what this could lead to.
Well my vote will be my own, here and for the people running.
Oh and by the way, I support the act of voting and I encourage all to do so.
If you don’t vote, you can’t complain.

Man, time flies!

Anyway, this week’s Girl Friday is Lynne.
Makes me want to go camping for some reason, eh?

Blue Collar Lunch Break

I think maybe it’s time that I shared the idea I had about this blog’s main header picture (the cartoon of the guys having a lunch break high above the city on a crossbeam)
A few years ago ( well maybe more ) I came across these pictures of a bunch of constructions guys having their lunch break in a rather particular place. I mean, it takes a special kind of man to do steelwork. It’s incredible what these guys do today but absolutely freaking amazing what they use to do and what they had to work with at the turn of the century. These guys earned

their money the hard way.

Anyway, when I saw the cartoon I saved it right away.

And now you know, ....the rest of the story.

Is it Friday already?

This is Ash and she knows Canada Kicks Ass.

CKA is also a very patriotic site
http://www.canadaka.net/
I love this site, Oh Canada!!

Enjoy and have a good weekend.

Blue Notes

The Cajuns have a saying for letting loose and having fun; “Laissez les bons temps roulés.”

With the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival just around the corner people are talking a lot about which artist they will be seeing, which show is already sold out and what’s new this year.
So far Buddy Guy (with reasons) has been sold out a long time ago, The Derek Trucks Band, Eric Bibbs and Sarah Jane Morris are some of the more popular acts.
I for one, am looking forward to see Ana Popvic, Garrett Mason and NB’s own Freightliner, Matt Andersen and Keith Hallett. Another great act coming will be the Hilario Duran Trio from Havana, Cuba. Anybody who’s ever been to the Caribbean’s will love these guys.

Support your festival, contribute, associate and enjoy. Don’t drink and drive and be safe.

Peace

Journalistic Integrity

I can’t stand stupidity. I believe that intelligence is something you can improve on a daily basis. Everyday is another chance to learn about something else. It’s a work in progress. A smart decision is taken when one can absorb information from all sides, all sources, and then draw their own conclusion. The ones who usually believe they know everything are usually the ones who know the least.
I have always tried to see things from both sides. I try not to judge people before I know all the facts. Because of this I usually become the Devil’s Advocate I guess, but if I don’t know I don’t say I do. I don't consider myself an intellectual because there's too much out there I don't know or don't care to know. But I do know what I like and what I believe in.

This morning I read Marty Klinkenberg article; Opposite Shawn and Yada, yada, yada.
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/front/article/403961
Being a fan of Seinfeld I thought the article was amusing but it still wasn’t enough to cover-up the stench of patronage. I fully realize that Klinkenberg is in a position where he can occasionally imply his point of view but unfortunately that’s all he does.

I’ve stated this before, I don’t care who’s in power as long as things get better. When Bernie Lord went into power it was time for change. But during his two terms he basically did nothing but put band-aids on everything. Our province as well as our country needs to keep moving forward and adapt to the ever changing global markets. Bernie’s vision stopped at the tip of his nose. Now I realize that Shawn Graham’s nose might be bigger than L’il Bernie, but I find he has tried to govern with some long term projects that will indeed help the province. It might be a bitter pill to swallow now but we will be healthier as a whole down the line.
All Klinkenberg drags up in his articles, week in and week out, is what the government in power is doing wrong. What about the doctors who are coming to the province or the addition of new medical equipments being announced around the province. What about the finished two-lane highway between Moncton and Edmunston? Granted, the project was started by Lord but he never invested the amounts of money that were invested the last 2 years under Graham. As a province, we can no longer depend on wood for financial stability. We need to look elsewhere. Nackawick used to make photographic print paper for Kodak and Dalhousie used to make newspaper. Both are dying markets never to return. Now Nackawick, along with the old Noranda mill near Campbellton, make cellulose. Their pulp used to be sent to markets in the U.S. and Europe which had maybe tens of millions of customers. Now their product is sent to India and their customers range in the billions. Cellulose is broke down to make viscose staple fibre which is used to make clothes. They sell their wares to population giants like China, India, the Philippines, get it?
Anyway, all of this said just to state that Klinkenberg might try using a little more journalistic integrity instead of constantly barking up the same tree.

A Day of Rest and Reflection

So really now, what is labour day and what does it mean to you?
An extra day off before school starts?
The last opportunity for a family vacation?
The end of summer?

Being a blue-collar worker I believe that Labour Day really has its place as a national holiday. We are the middle-class of Canada and New Brunswick. We absorb whatever the poor can’t pay and whatever the rich refuse. We are the ones who feed you, clothe you, make you smarter, make you safer. Yet we say so little. We are the full hands to the needy and the open palms to the disciplinary have-it-alls. There is so much work done in the trenches that people don’t realize, it gets kind of funny. I do not believe in singular achievements, blue collars rarely do. We believe in unity for province and country. We believe in sharing and helping our fellow man. There is no "I" in teamwork. Today is a day for rest and reflection. Rest, so we can do better tomorrow. Reflect so we can prepare for next week, next month or even next year. But reflection should also be jointly endorsed by the ones who reap and prosper.

We represent way over 60% of Canada.

This is our day and we will gladly share it with everyone one else as; an extra day off before school starts or the last opportunity for a family vacation and even as the end of summer?

Happy Labour Day to all.

My girl Friday!

Yes, I know, I am a lecht. I love women. I love them smart, funny, not too serious and very patriotic. Therefore I am introducing my (hopefully) weekly Girl Friday. I actually thought of this when I came across this picture (on top).
Here are the qualifications for such an honor.

1.- Be of female gender
2.- Show patriotism for Canada
3.- Be of female gender (can’t stress that too much!)

Hey, I figured if the Toronto Sun and its sister publications can have a Sunshine Girl then I can have my Girl Friday. There will not be any nudity and covered private parts will be a must. (Did I hear someone say Awww?) But bikinis are just fine!

Hell, it’s Friday and I am usually in a good mood and like I said, I love women!

Have a great weekend.

Healing really does take time

Mike Murphy sure has been getting it from all sides lately concerning the new Health-care system. The French are scared of losing services, the English says it's too expensive, the North says it's not enough and the South says it's being neglected. I know pleasing everybody is impossible but this is getting ridiculous. New Brunswickers have been screaming bloody murder for the last 10+ years about a lack of doctors, a lack of patient services and long waiting lines at the hospital. Interestingly enough, that’s what Murphy’s been trying to do, and has accomplish some steps in the right direction so far, yet people are still ranting and raving.
We use to have 7 regions. Seven!! Think of the people it takes to run all these regions. Most of the French administrators came from Quebec. Think of the room these offices take. I am positive that many of those administrators were honest hard working people, however there are a lot of these special interest group administrators who are quite content with passing the buck. Supplied housing, supplied car, travel expenses and 6-digit salaries are all part of the job for those high level administrators.
But I am getting off topic here. Like any illness, our health care system needed an emergency appendectomy of sorts and Murphy went in scalpel-a-swinging. Less money for administrators means more money for doctors. Less room for offices means more beds for patients. Fewer regions to equip means less duplication in services. Anybody following me here?
Look, I really don’t care if Mike Murphy is arrogant; if he gets the job done I’m happy. I don’t care if he’s a Liberal or a Conservative, I want more doctors. I don’t care if he drives a fancy car, I just don’t want my/your mom-aunt-sister travelling fours hours a day three times a week for her dialysis.
Basically, I believe there was a big problem in our health care services and at least Murphy is trying to do something about it. We can’t always be thinking of Me, Myself and I, sometimes we have to think about how a system can be better as a whole, for more people.
Anyway, we had a sick health system, the operation has been done, now we wait for the healing. Stop picking at the wound if you don’t want a scar. Give it time.
It’s about time they removed the cyst instead of putting band-aids over it.

A Man for the Unions

I read a great story by Reid Southwick of the Telegraph-Journal last Saturday; The Cain inside Abel.
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/actualites/article/394658

The focus of course was Saint John Lancaster MLA Abel LeBlanc, a former union president of 16 years and longshoreman. For some us who have worked within a unionized environment, men like Abel LeBlanc are the guys you want to go to war with, in a manner of speaking. For those who have never worked in a big industrialized area, it can be difficult for people to understand why Mr. LeBlanc is so curt and outspoken. I understand that in some smaller area, the act of unionizing the employees was damaging for a business. But when you play with the big boys, like Irving, Noranda and Bowater, just to name a few, the workers really do need a union.
When you work for those guys you are just a number, a pawn on the game board of industry. Steel-toe boots are not comfortable and neither is working with a gas mask in 90-95 degree temperature. Yes, I agree that salaries are usually good but they do deal with many dangers on a daily basis. Toxic air, flammable substances and high levels of heat and noise are just some examples. When there’s a fire or a gas leak, trust me the white hats go running for cover. These big companies are in business for the all-mighty dollar, not for the welfare of their workers. But somebody has to do the dirty work. The dirty jobs are blue collar work. Somebody has to make the cars, mine the ores, take out the garbage, teach the children, patrol the streets, plow the road, build the houses, buildings, town, cities etc…
Men like Abel LeBlanc are the ones who look out for their peers. Sure he talks tough but if you don’t, you’re just flapping your lips. If I needed back up I’d want a man like Abel at my side. MLAs Margret-Ann Blaney and Bev Harrison are having a field day calling for LeBlanc’s firing. But then again, Blaney is pretty ineffectual unless she’s modeling her new clothes and stuffed-shirt Harrison is way too busy with his Welsh Corgi League, Royal Commonwealth Society and Constitutional Monarchy Association.
How can they judge LeBlanc when they know nothing about what he’s about? The unions of Saint John will not go rioting in the streets and LeBlanc knows it. He wanted to be heard and sometimes, when you want business people to listen to the little guys, you have to be gruff.
We all have our place in this life and Abel LeBlanc has no qualms about his.
Abel did what he felt had to do. Way to go brother!

The sands of Beijing

(at right Team Norway)
I love the Olympics. The true patriotic competition, the huge assortment of sports I don’t usually get to see and those sweet little extras... like beach volley ball. Now before you start leaving me messages with words like chauvinist, misogynist or even ...pig!!! Allow me to explain my particular point of view.
I like volley ball, I played varsity volley ball, so obviously I watch it. When beach volleyball began well it was quite natural to watch that too. It takes exceptional ball control and handling abilities to play in the sand plus at 2 vs 2 it becomes a virtual chess game. And of course one of the big attraction is the women athletes. I mean, toned women in skimpy bikinis jumping, running and diving all over the place as their tanned body glisten under the sun’s rays!
Hello!!!
And thus began my search, once again, to find someone, somewhere, upon the vast electronic highway we call the Internet, who would share my point of view. Hark! But not in silence, this shall not do. No, I needed someone to come forth strongly, not to bury thy fine sports deep into the sand that cushion their feet but to praise it. Praise it as the visual utopia it has become in light of these Olympic games. And fruitfully I found that person. I found her opinion as a matter of fact. Yes, Ashley Harris summed a response well written to silence the most objectionable fanatics of this beautiful sport. Tis’ well worth the time to read and understand my friends.

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/beijingolympics/archive/2008/08/22/in-defense-of-the-volleyball-bikini.aspx/archive/2008/08/22/in-defense-of-the-volleyball-bikini.aspx


Team USA Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh

Canada's Marie-Andrée Lessard

This year, the US team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won gold by defeating the host Chinese team of Jia Tian and Jie Wang in two sets. Ironically, it rained throughout the match. The bronze-medal match featured the Chinese team of Chen Xue and Xi Zhang who also defeated Brazil’s Renata Ribeiro and Talita Antunes in straight sets.
Unfortunately Canada did not make it to the Olympics this time around but the present teams of Dana Cooke \ Annie Martin and Marie-Andrée Lessard \ Sarah Maxwell http://www.mtothemax.ca/ are well worth keeping an eye on for the next few years. http://www.volleyball.ca/index.asp

But really now, how can one not like a sport that celebrates all the athletic abilities of the human body and shows it off too? Beach volley ball even has teams in Sweden and Norway? Now I ask you, with all the crap going on in world news these days who amongst us doesn’t deserve to watch bikini clad women (and strapping male jocks for the ladies) playing a game in the sand on a nice sunny day. We’ve all heard the saying about stopping to smell the roses, eh? Well, suntan lotion and sand smell like roses to me.

Our deepest respect and sympathies

Today, soldiers in Kandahar will bid farewell to Sgt. Shawn Eades, Sapper Stephan Stock and Cpl. Dustin Wasden, before their long journey home.

Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson was quoted as saying that Taliban attacks are "absolutely not whittling away at the resolve of Canadian troops.”

Eades, of Hamilton, Ont. leaves behind a wife and two daughters.
Wasden, from Saskatchewan, leaves behind a wife and young daughter.

The latest three deaths bring the total number of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002 to 93.

About 2,500 Canadian soldiers are now serving in Afghanistan, most of them in the volatile south.

Gentlemen your countrymen remain grateful of your courage.
Chimo!

Sherraine Schalm

I have to admit, the first time I had heard of Sherraine Schalm was last week. Quite out of the blue I caught a CBC special about Schalm and her efforts to become Canada's first fencing gold medallist. She is a competitor of the highest calibre and a ferociously proud Canadian. Sharp witted and sharp tongued she gave a wonderful interview. What's not to like?
The next day, I caught her match against Hungarian Ildiko Mincza-Nebald. She lost.
The match was a tight affair filled with animosity from both sides which caught me quite by surprise as I don't usually watch fencing.
Anyway, once she lost she reacted with her guts, physically and emotionally. Later she gave an interview which turned into a rant filled with anger and deception.
The next morning, she did another interview on TV basically to apologize for her behaviour of the previous day. She started well but soon turned bitter once again.
I thought to myself; that was too much emotion in too little time for too many to see. For Schalm, or anybody else for that matter, to react so ostensibly there had to be a story somewhere.
Thus I began a search and found out a lot more about this brazen Canadian fencing champion.
I guess the best story I found was this one from CBC.ca

-- Sherraine Schalm, Canada's best hope for an Olympic fencing medal, has been knocked out of competition in Beijing in a defeat Wednesday that triggered some angry words and emotions from the Brooks, Alta., native.
Schalm was seeded fifth in Beijing, six spots higher than her opponent, but was defeated 15-13 by Hungarian Ildiko Mincza-Nebald in the epee round of 16.
Schalm was devastated by the loss, especially since she was defeated by a Hungarian. She had trained with the Hungarian national team for four years, but shortly before her final Olympic camp, she was told by her coach that she was no longer welcome to train with them.
"It's like I imagine being a man. It's like being kicked in the nuts repeatedly, that's how bad it feels. You feel like you want to curl up and die," Schalm, competing in her third Olympics, said after the loss.
"I'm trying to put it all in perspective. Immediately, it's not so easy. It's just really tough. You train so long and I feel like I disappointed myself, my coach, my family, my country, everybody.
"I wish none of you ever have to go through this feeling of loss and feeling of disappointment, and the only thing that I can say is it's definitely not going to kill me, so it will have to make me stronger."
Schalm led the entire bout before Mincza-Nebald, the fourth-place finisher at the 2004 Athens Olympics, took control in the final three points and sealed victory. The contest lasted a little more than seven minutes.
Schalm is one of the best female epee fencers in the world. She won a bronze medal at the 2005 world championships and the overall World Cup title in 2006. She has also beaten Romanian Branza, who is ranked No. 2 in the world, three spots higher than Schalm.
Schalm had a first-round bye in Beijing.

But this still did not explain to me Schalm's angry yet passionate outbursts.

Then I finally found this blog by Elisa Hategan which made all so clear to me.

http://subversivewriter.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/2012-olympics-sherraine-vs-hungary/

In light of all this information about Schalm all I have to say is WOW! Give that lady a hand brother, because if there's something I admire is a competitor of this magnitude. Not only is Sherraine Schalm a true Canadian patriot but also a voice that the Canadian government should really listen to. How in the Hell can we expect our athletes to go through shit like that and come out smelling like a rose.

Sherraine Schalm did her best. She does not need to apologize for inadequate sports funding. Chin up girl, you may have lost this time but I can’t wait to see you go for the next 4 years cause you’ll be ripping those Hungarian a new one at the next Olympics. I am officially a Schalm fan.

Go Canada Go!

The beginning

Ok so here we go, my feedback page on the whatevers of our times.

I'll be going slow but eventually...I'll get going. A born procratinator I am. Hey! Why do today what you can do tomorrow right?

Ok, see you next time.

Stan