Apologies for light blogging - events, dear boy . . .

We had an amazing event on “Dealing with Debt” yesterday: speakers from Canada, Ireland, Sweden, Australia and even the UK giving their various views.  I could not possibly summarise it all here and now: maybe at some future juncture, maybe not at all.  See below for the speakers: as well as them, there was a strong informed crowd, including people from across the spectrum, journalists and civil servants.

A couple of spotty observations:

• In terms of winning the political debate, you have to treat everyone equally.  Every department, every region has to feel it is getting some pain.  David Herle, who for my money was the best speaker from a very strong crowd, made the point that they had to scrap subsidies for farmers across their vast country to win support.   In which case why are people promising to ring-fence the NHS? It will make it harder going after other areas
• Most of the countries discussed were smaller, economically, than the UK, and had less to gain from fiscal support.  In particular, the Irish examples tell us almost nothing about the wisdom of fiscal consolidation here.  Their stimulus leaks abroad, and merely hits their borrowing rates.  For the UK, it is not so sure
• Related to the first point, if one group seem to be favoured (bankers anyone?) then the chances of widespread consensus are very damaged.
• When I (twice) challenged on the subject of the economic implications of fiscal cuts (see Slash and Grow? – which Chris Cook very generously and probably inaccurately credited with bringing a volte face in Conservative economic policy), the right-of-centres so challenged (Andrew Tyrie, dry and excellent, Nick Bosanquet, similar though looking continuously mischievous) always answered that we are going to have trouble selling our debt.  This seems to me a very speculative argument: why the UK in particular?  But Andrew Tyrie made a very telling point about how easy QE had made debt-sales this year.   I look forward to learning more about what he thinks on that subject – Sally Keeble MP too.
• David Walker had an interesting and slightly dismaying point to make about centralism/localism and fiscal consolidation: you probably need central control to force through tough fiscal policies.  I notice that he has been consistent on this point (2002 article):  “Local communities, especially those where Labour used to draw its support, tend to lack resources. Some are reactionary and others are incompetent . . . Communities may be energetic and progressive; they may also be sluggish and mean . . . If you value inequality, localism is a fine doctrine to hold.”

I hate to give support to such a pessimistic vision, but yesterday the FT reported this on the success of a particular localist policy:

A £100m programme to screen young people for infection by chlamydia has not been good value for money, the National Audit Office said yesterday. In a blow to advocates of greater localism, the public spending watchdog found that the latitude given to individual primary care trusts involved in the programme, launched in 2002, had led to duplication and inefficiency.

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These were the speakers.

• Gemma Tetlow, Senior Research Economist, IFS
• Sally Keeble MP, member of Treasury Select Committee (tbc)
• Andrew Tyrie MP, former special advisor to Chancellors Lawson and Major, member of Treasury Select Committee
• Lord Newby of Rothwell, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman
• David Herle, political advisor to finance minister and prime minister Paul Martin, on the politics of the Canadian cuts of the 1990s.
• Warwick Lightfoot, economist, former special advisor to Norman Lamont (tbc)
• Julian McCrae, Research Fellow, Institute for Government, and former member of the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit (tbc)
• Professor Colm McCarthy, economist and commentator, on how Ireland is dealing with the collapse in its tax base.
• Christopher Cook, economics leader writer, Financial Times
• Chris Sanger, Head of Tax Policy, Ernst and Young
• Pär Nuder, Swedish finance minister from 2004 to 2006, on how Sweden cut public spending by 17 per cent of GDP since 1993.
• Dr Chris Aulich, academic and commentator on Australia’s public sector, on John Howard’s privatisations and public services reforms which reduced the size of the state to 33 per cent of GDP.
• Professor Nick Bosanquet, Professor of Health Policy, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College and Consultant Director, Reform
• David Walker, communications director, Audit Commission, formerly the Guardian

Today, we have Sharon Bowles MEP, fearsomely bright and now influential in chairing the EU’s Economi and Monetary Affairs committee.  Her background in patent law gives her a relentlessly forensic and legally-aware mind, ideal for the work of that committee.  I’m chairing the event at Bloomberg, asking how the EU will fit in with the G20 agenda.  So that’s why the blogging is light.  Anyway, who’s reading?  mostly people from the Sceptical Doctor blog, anyway, I suspect.

Vancouver

Vancouver is the perfect place to write about seeing as how the 2010 Olympics are just around the corner! Approximately seven million tickets are sold to spectators coming from all around the world to watch the games.. and this year they’ll all be traveling to Canada starting February 12th.

Vancouver is hosting the 2010 Olympics from February 12th to the 28th. In order to find information regarding traveling to Canada click here. Of course the town will be bustling with excitement over the course of the time and because of the Olympics there are olympic-related events events which can be found here.

Although, Vancouver was always a great spot to travel to, even when they aren’t hosting one of the greatest events world-wide. One of the more popular activities for the adventurous traveler is the Capilano Suspension Bridge. It’s a bridge 250 feet about the Capilano River that brings you into the heart of the forest for spectacular views.

For a list of more of Vancouver’s must-see attractions, you can check it out here

 

 

(pictures found at infohostels.com and destination360.com)

Online Gambling Laws in Canada

Today, almost every form of gambling is legal throughout Canada. Online gambling, however, is a trickier situation. The Canadian government does not give out licenses for companies to operate internet casinos, so all “Canadian” gambling sites are actually hosted elsewhere. There are no specific laws that prohibit Canadians from playing at online gambling sites hosted in other countries, so strictly speaking, it’s not illegal. But however the current laws are interpreted, many Canadians gamble online, and there are plenty of internet gambling sites that accept Canadian players and even the Canadian Dollar. Read more…

Saeman Bros. SUP'n Across America: Canada Farmlands to Annapolis MD: Blog #5

Hey Guys,

We left Montana in search of more rapids and lakes to SUP and we ended up meeting up and staying with our friends from Govan, Saskatchewan. It took us about 14 hours to drive from the buffalo ranch to the beautiful farmlands of Canada with only a few paddles in the shallow rivers to keep us amused. While we we were up there, most people were very surprised about what we were doing on our road trip and thought we were crazy…(which isn’t all wrong). Most of the people we were with had never seen SUPing before, so T.J. and I hopped in our board shorts in 30 degree weather with snow on the ground and put our boards in the agricultural dugout and paddled around. Most everyone was speechless but pretty amazed at how easily we glided through the water. We said our goodbyes to all of our friends (Bob, Noreen, Jim, Jared, Rocket, Danita, and Ryan) and started our journey to the east coast. After 2 days of driving, we stopped off in Annapolis, Maryland to say hi to Gene and John from Backyard Boats. They were kind enough to show us there store and all their products and ended up taking us on a very fun and historic paddle through the river and around the famed “Ego Alley.” Everyone was walking around the harbor asking us lots of questions and stopping to take pictures with us. It was good to see this part of the country with the leaves changing colors and seeing the different water sports in the harbor but we were ready to get to the outer banks and have a chance at some waves. So, we hopped in the car for another 5 hours and ended up on the outer banks that night…….

Saskatchewan Farmhouse

Welcome to Alberta, Canada

Then welcome to Saskatchewan, Canada

TJ and Bob Walker in front of the dugout

Showing the Canadians how-to-SUP

Looks like the Snow Geese have good numbers this year

Canadian Dugout

Rocket, Bob, and Jared: Looking at us like we are crazy!

Bryce: 3 Monsters deep

Hobie SUP'n in Madison, Wisconsin

The drive through a long, rainy country

SUP'n in Old America

Bryce and John (Backyard Boats) in the harbor

Bryce heading into "Ego Alley"

Board Cam on the East Coast

Thanks Backyard Boats!

The Tragically Hip announce European Tour

It’s been over seven years since this Canadian group has played in Europe.  And this announcement of gigs has four stops on the British Isles.

11/23/09 Effenaar: Eindhoven, NL
11/25/09 Oosterpoort: Groningen, Holland
11/26/09 Tivoli: Utrecht, Holland
11/27/09 Paradiso: Amsterdam, Holland
11/29/09 Ancienne Belgique: Brussels, Belgium
11/30/09 Forum: London, GB
12/02/09 Academy 3: Manchester, GB
12/03/09 The Garage: Glasgow, GB
12/04/09 The Village: Dublin, IE

The Tragically Hip on stage in Hamilton, Ontario

I had the pleasure of seeing The Hip live at Massey Hall in Toronto, Canada back in 2000. 

They are an amazing band on stage with some killer roots-rock tunes and unique lyrics.  They also actively encourage bootlegging.

The Tragically Hip, is Gordie Downie (vocals), Bobby Baker (guitar), Paul Langlois (guitar), Gord Sinclair (bass) and Johnny Fay (drums).

The band released its debut, self-titled album in the late 80s but it wasn’t until their second release Up to Here that they started receiving critical acclaim. The album included staple Hip tunes like “New Orleans is Sinking” and “Blow at High Dough”.

The band was embraced by their fellow Canucks for its steady rock riffs and ballads that predominantly featured Canadian themed lyrics – “Bobcaygeon”, “38 Years Old” and “Forty Mission Cap” to name a few.

Its 1993 release, Fully Completely, awarded them some US crossover attention, mainly in bordering states like Michigan and New York. The band started touring across the Midwest of America and secured a spotlight on popular comedy sketch programme, Saturday Night Live, in 1995.

Its sixth album, Phantom Power, produced hits in the form of “Fireworks” and “Poets” and the Hip were booked for Woodstock 1999. The band also performed at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic games in 2002.

Over the course of their nearly two decade long recording career, The Tragically Hip has built up an impressive array of accomplishments despite not having blatant, mainstream success. On the other hand, it’s reported that the band has never really sought that international attention.

While the band sells out arenas in their native Canada, other tours in America or Europe consist of smaller, intimate venues. Some of the accolades awarded to The Hip by the Canadian market include a star of the Canadian Walk of Fame, numerous Juno awards and an induction to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Cold Day, Warm Hearts

It was a chilly Saturday Morning but not too bad considering it is November after all. I was worried about the effects of cold weather… red and runny noses, off color skin tones… as I walked through O’Dell Park looking for the requested fall colors that are hard to come by this time of year. All worries melted away after meeting Lauren and Matt! I was instantly warmed by their genuine love for each other and I absolutely loved the way the laughed together. And I mean LAUGHED! The kind of laugh that brings a smile to anyone who is near enough to listen.

It was a pleasure to spend a little time with them in a “mini” engagement session. The time may have been short but the photos are beautiful! As are the people in them.

Philharmonic Society, Montreal, 1847

Montreal Weekly Pilot

24 December 1847

Philharmonic Society-  There is certainly no want of musical talent in Montreal, and to cultivate and render attractive that talent requires only the determined action and personal influence of a few of our leading amateurs.  We had the pleasure, during the last winter, to be present at one or two private musical soirees given by one of our accomplished military officers, who is well known for his attachment and devotion to the divine art, and particularly for his successful efforts in the department of choral music.  We were highly gratified at the exhibition we then witnessed, both in the vocal and instrumental efforts, and with the execution and taste of the various performers.

Can it be possible, we would ask, in a city like Montreal, blessed with the advantages of wealth, rich in refinement, and distinguished for its love of the fine arts, that there does not exist at the present a single musical association, fostered by public patronage, and in which professional merit can be adequately compensated for its labours and acquirements?  There is scarcely a town or city in England, or even in the United States, without its Philharmonic Society, its musical Fund Hall, and its Gentleman’s Glee club.

It would really seem that the selfish representatives of ancient Adam desire to banish all recollections of that celestial refinement which in the divine harmony of paradise, once charmed the ear of their great prototype, and have found higher gratifications in the rude sports of the chase, the field games of athletic exercise, and that skilful dexterity which figures on the indurated bosom of a frozen river.  Thistle clubs, curling clubs, cricket clubs, trotting clubs, Masonic lodges, and IOOF’s, and other associations, furnish abundant matter for the enjoyments of the Lords of the land.  What resources of rational entertainment, however, have they provided for the gentler sex, who are necessarily excluded from such assemblies, and whose susceptible are more readily opened to the refined cultivation of taste and feeling?  The body it is true may occasionally be made to throw off its natural tendency to supineness and immobility in a ball room; but the mind in its wonderful predominance over matter, seeks for purer sources of happiness in those pleasurable emotions inspired by the sublime and the beautiful.

It can hardly be doubted that if a few influential gentlemen of Montreal were to propose a meeting for the purpose of establishing a Philharmonic Society, it could be easily accomplished.  Our enterprising fellow citizen MJ Hays, Esq., could doubtless be induced to make arrangements in his splendid establishment, now being completed, for a spacious and appropriate Music Hall: the price of membership could readily be fixed; officers chosen, and our accomplished amateurs could soon be embodied in a “Corps Musicale;” and we should have more agreeable “overtures” than those offered by our good friends Compain and Dolly- at least in the early part of the evenings.

If the accomplished officer of whom we have already spoken will proposed the matter to a few of his friends, we shall soon have a meeting, and at least be able to “sound” the public feeling, and endeavour to raise it to “concert pitch.”