Random thoughts for a Monday morning start.

Ugh. Monday.
One might not think so, but even working from home brings the occasional ”ugh, it’s Monday”. I think it is unavoidable. It has been a particularly exhausting couple of weeks here at home, following the arrival of a respiratory virus that made its way through every child in the house. As any parent knows, it never happens [...]

Bits and Bites – Wednesday September 24th, 2008

Good morning my friends ! After an unexpected absence last week, my weekly Bits and Bites feature is back to make YOUR hump day, all that humpier. Hmm – is that even a word?  I’m a bit giddy this morning. Whoo hoo! Lets get this party started.
Everyone seems to be in agreement that for the most part,Canadian [...]

Guest Editorial: The Thrill Ride of The Summer

 Something Cool News editor Fred Johns ‘comes out’  in this first guest editorial on the Laila Yuile site, and reveals that he isn’t  so angry about the Scott Young saga after all.  In fact, he’s rooting for him to run again…….
The Thrill Ride of the Summer
 In the course of following the Scott Young fiasco, I think I have done a [...]

Colleen Preston Vows to Help Others, Says ” …be aware there is no justice for victims…”

 Over the past couple of months I have had several occasionsto speak with victim Colleen Preston, and was shocked and saddened by her experiences- not only with the convicted Mayor Scott Young, but with Crown Counsel and the system that is supposedly in place to protect the victim. This story is far from over. She [...]

We take a hard look at Scott Youngs situation, on The Fred Factor Sunday night

Thank you to those of you who took the time to listen my discussion with Fred Johns, editor of www.somethingcoolnews.ca , as we talked about Scott Youngs sentence and the issues surrounding his recent conviction.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=X766vqAGJqY
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_4TMa52yo0I
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yQe2sWkOv-I
http://somethingcool.ca/profile279.htm
As a clarifier, Scott Young was given a conditional sentence, which is different from a conditonal discharge, as we have clarified [...]

Zero Tolerance for Abuse and Assault MUST Be The Standard with No exceptions-even for Mayor Scott Young

By now, you will more than likely have heard about the sentencing of Port Coquitlam Mayor Scott Young, who received 12 months conditional sentence and 18 months probation for the assault of Colleen Preston and her friend.     http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/07/25/bc-scott-young-port-coquitlam-mayor-sentence.html
 Young must  also adhere to a curfew and perform  community service. Smug is the only word that could appropriately [...]

Defense suggests Mayor Scott Youngs behavior ” completely out of character..”

There is nothing more disgusting than hearing a defense lawyer defending his client well , especially when something like the above quote comes out of his mouth.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/06/05/bc-mayor-scott-young-drunk.html
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=bfdf3666-d852-41a9-b927-c26239a71407
Today, Richard Peck, defense for Mayor Scott Young, presented his closing comments before the final sentencing hearing on July 25th . Did I call it in my column a couple [...]

Bits and Bites – Wednesday June 4th

What do you say that we start this hump day off the right way, with a little something-something for the mind? After missing last weeks feature, it’s back again, just for you. 
 What happens when a community reaches a crisis point, and residents are left feeling ignored and frustrated with local politicians ? In an effort to find [...]

Womens Health Effects Study

Please forgive the interruption of my usual Wednesday Bits and Bites feature, but the entire morning has been taken up by a very worthy cause.
For the last 4 years, and for one more, I have been a participant in a large, ongoing research study involving abused women. The researchers involved have been meeting with partipants yearly, and have been [...]

Time for Premier Gordon Campbell, Minister Ida Chong and Port Coquitlam City Council to Stand Up and Be Counted

You know what I’m talking about. Some people are so damn arrogant and smug that you just want to wipe the expression right off their face. Sources tell me this was expression on Mayor Scott Youngs face several times during the council meeting last night, where he abstained from voting on a request for him [...]