Lit_200 April 3, 2008 at 12:38 p.m.

I am going to post this on the next thread.

I feel sorry for Doug Bell who is trying to segue a blog about Conrad Black's trial (which is over except for the appeal which won't be heard until June) into one on the fascinating topics of "media, money and egos."

While he still concerns himself with Conrad Black's brilliant but infrequent appearances in the media (karma be praised), Bell has raised issues that include Spitzer, American politics, the handling of buffoon newsmakers, Canadian entertainment and Canadian pubs... all in his typically edgy and insightful way.

Nobody seems to notice.

Despite their insistence that Black is old news, Bell's erstwhile followers will comment ONLY on Conrad Black, the protean columnist who finds himself writing and publishing great articles from behind the low security walls of the Coleman correctional facility.

And most of the yakkity-yak is personal ad hominem attacks across the Conrad Black divide. Surely those anti-Black forces can comment on more than the object of their neverending obsession.

Help Bell out! Comment on the topic of his threads!

January April 3, 2008 at 1:04 p.m.

Oh Lit (sadly shaking my head)

If I come to this site for the purpose of ranting on about what a big hairy liar Conrad Black is, why would I want to talk about Harriet Harman? (Who is she again?) It's just not as much fun taking pot shots at someone I've never heard of before, even if she did say something silly.

And come on now, admit it. There's been a little gleam in your eyes when you write about how Fintan (or whoever else) is gnashing their teeth in impotent fury. Don't pretend you don't enjoy attacking the man....

Fintan April 3, 2008 at 1:23 p.m.

Ha, ha, January.

I'll comment on the actual topic and leave it till another time and another context to speculate about whether or not His Lardship has been cornholed already. LOL

Harman is not exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer, so gaffes like this are to be expected. If the streets aren't safe enough for ordinary citizens, politicians shouldn't walk around them wearing stab-proof vests like that and with several bobbies in tow. They should stay in their walled compounds until they are able to go out without such a visible security presence.

It's nice to live in a country where I can bump into a former president or prime minister on the street and have a brief chat without fearing that anyone will attack us.

Sometimes you couldn't make up stories like the ones you hear from the UK now and then. A couple of months ago, for example, the TV news reported that a bus driver in London had noticed that three passengers were smoking - and crack at that! - in his bus. Remembering all the appeals that politicians had made to people to help the police, yadda, yadda, yadda, he drove straight into the forecourt of a police station, rushed in to the desk and told the officer there what was going on in the bus outside. He was told they were too busy and that he should call 999!

Who answers 999 calls? Santa Claus?

Lit_200 April 4, 2008 at 3:36 a.m.

"January April 3, 2008 at 1:04 p.m.

Oh Lit (sadly shaking my head)

If I come to this site for the purpose of ranting on about what a big hairy liar Conrad Black is, why would I want to talk about Harriet Harman? (Who is she again?) It's just not as much fun taking pot shots at someone I've never heard of before, even if she did say something silly.

And come on now, admit it. There's been a little gleam in your eyes when you write about how Fintan (or whoever else) is gnashing their teeth in impotent fury. Don't pretend you don't enjoy attacking the man...."

There, there, don't be sad, it's not all that bad. You'll be OK.

It depends on my mood. I do enjoy provoking some posters and puncturing them, especially those who I think parade their egos (boasting about their degrees, attainments world-weariness and self-professed wisdom etc.).

But really, it's pretty childish and, eventually, tiresome (it's so easy to do!). Having said that, I expect I will again be childish when I feel like it.

My point though is that Doug Bell, whom I used to agree with about 80 per cent of the time (that's down to 70% lately), has a good blog going here. I like a lot of the stuff he brings to the table. It's rather a shame when the comments are the same old, same old junk when Bell has thrown us a new bone to gnaw on.

But you have done a good thing! You sparked Fintan, who usually has only two or three things he wants to say (again and again and again), to actually post something on-topic and amusing.

So good for you!