2004-05-12 - 8:35 p.m.
the other day we walked to the recycling dumpster to get rid of some bottles. there was one bum in the dumpster and another one standing at the side with a cart. the cart held assorted items which people were getting rid of as they moved out for may first. we decided to just give the bums the bags of refundables instead of putting them in the dumpster for them to just retrieve in 10 minutes. as we handed the cart holding bum the bags, the twinkle in his eye suggested his glee at the potential he saw in us.
"okay, yah, i'll take those. (pensive pause) so... hey you guys got any spare change? got a quarter? loonie? dimes? no? ok then ah, let's see here... how about a smoke? you got a smoke to spare?"
he was a good bum. had the repetoire all lined up when the right customer came along. unfortunately for him, we had no change. and someone decided that day to quit smoking so put the three remaining smokes, cracked, in the garbage shute.
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i love how the cbc decided to portray the long awaited tar ponds cleanup plan as a wolf in sheep's clothing. the report went something like this:
-reporter briefly explains government announcement in as few words as possible and in vague terms
-reporter talks about why tar ponds are there
-reporter talks to various cb accented individuals on the street, giving them her short version and letting them speak their mind
-"like, i don't wanna breathe those toxins in our lungs" (etc)
this cleanup plan was a long time coming. the announcement should make people happy that things are finally moving financially. they should be skeptical about how effective it actually will be, but wouldn't it be nice if the reporter talked to someone who might KNOW how effective the plan could be? someone who might have an inkling about what happens to these toxins when they're incinerated? how the burning is contained? what the risks actually are? instead, all we get on the national news is the personal reactions from people who would benefit from knowing a thing or two more about the situation. IMAGINE what life would be like if the media informed people instead of lazily showcasing the uninformed? yeesh.
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