The News Bastards

Author: Bill M.
It seems that the world is always heading, rather quickly, to hell in hard and shallow handbaskets.  The major media outlets have kept our eyes glued to the latest of these in the form of oil spewing out of the Gulf of Mexico, the pissed off proletariat in Greece flailing molotov cocktails into riot shields, and Eminem's new single. 

In this atmosphere we often find ourselves exhausted by the world's problems before we even get to work in the morning.  It become difficult to question the validity of privatizing Ontario's water distribution system, understanding how new copyright laws may affect us, or even the passive condoning of child abuse.

Many of those sometimes depressing, yet crucial bits of information about the fabric of our society go unnoticed as we try and stay abreast of all the world's issues and challenges.  As I surf the net in search of intelligent banter I often come across some pretty interesting stuff.  In addition to the articles referenced above I'd like to present what I'd like to call:  This Month's Bastards.

The following articles are those that seem to never hit page one of the major media outlets but are nevertheless deemed important by our staff.  Always the bridesmaid, never the bride - or in this case: always the bastards.

Bastard #1:  I found this article on the website for the Canadian Council on Social Development.  Although some people may shudder when they hear the word "poverty", this report by the group Canadians for Public Justice outlines how the recent recession has affected Canadians.  If nothing else it begs the question:  How are we going to deal with this when the government has already raised taxes (HST for some provinces) and public sector jobs are being cut?

Does this make you mad?  Do something about it here.  Because our politicians certainly aren't.

Bastard #2:  Everyone was cheering for democracy winning the day in parliament - but why did it even get to such a point?  I may be kicking a dead horse here, but where the fuck was democracy when parliament was prorogued?  And why did it take so long for the speaker to come to the conclusion that the parties should work together?

Does this make you angry?  Do something about it here.

Bastard #3:  If the stuff up top doesn't make you want to vomit just a little bit then take a look at this.  Erik Prince, the mastermind of the modern day Private Military Corporation (PMC) is usually pretty secretive when it comes to his strategy and opinions.  In this rare transcript of a speech he gave recently he says some pretty interesting things: including some bits of praise for the Canadians fighting and dying in Afghanistan.  Did you know that Canada uses Blackwater (the above mentioned PMC) to train some of its soldiers?

If this pisses you off, click here.

That's all for this week's bastards.  Be sure to check the rest of the articles in this issue and, if you're feeling motivated, click here to be added to our contact list.

Author: Bill M.

A small TV hanging in the corner of the hospital waiting room was stuck on CBC.  My mind turned to mush as mindless news reports blasted at me over the airwaves and trivial bits of information "tickered" their way across the bottom of the screen.  The announcer - a pleasant middle-aged lady with a tired look on her face - calmly regurgitated bits of pre-packaged information.

At this point in time, the viewers were being treated to a serious debate concerning the impact and meaning of Nike's new commercial on Tiger Woods' career as well as the sport of golf in general.

...

After years of reading, listening, and watching the world's news unfold online, in the papers, and on TV, I have become more and more jaded every day about the quality of news.  Not only that, but the airwaves and time in a person's home life are valuable resources that are wasted when used to discuss irrelevant issues or analyze a commercial.

I have realized that simply being frustrated with this state of affairs is not going to solve anything.  Unless an alternative is provided then there is no real change.

So, that was it.

That particular day, and that particular piece on CBC was the proverbial straw breaking some four-legged animal's back.  This sudden realization, this break from normalcy, led me to the conclusion that perhaps what I had to say, and what many of us have to say, is more important than what we hear and see on TV.

Specifically, I came to the conclusion that it was high time I threw mine, and my colleagues' hats into this circus of information.  If the CBC prefers to cover inconsequential dramas and nation-wide newspapers have decided not to spell check anymore - then couldn't anyone start up a media outlet?

Thank the human race for the internet, I say.  Praise the invention of the blog.  These tools of mass communication can now be wielded by anyone with an opinion and an internet connection.

So, it's our turn.  The bastards of news have made a leap for the stage.  I have asked several people I know to contribute their opinions, experiences, and ideas to this endeavour.  They are spread out across Canada and have extremely varied points of view and backgrounds.

The site will operate much like a blog, or an amalgamation of blogs.  Whatever the contributors wish to write about - they are permitted to do so.  The only editing that takes place is for spelling and grammar.  I will encourage them to think critically about the status quo and challenge existing norms.  I have also prompted them to be as frank as possible, which at the very least should be entertaining if not informative.

There is no overarching bias to the content provided in this site.  If anything, it would be pro-Canadian and pro-smart-decision-making.

Due to the fact that most of us have full time jobs, we will not be conducting any major investigative journalism.  We will strive to maintain a bi-weekly schedule.  This schedule is by no means set in stone, so I encourage you to subscribe to our email list here.

Should you wish to comment on any of the articles there is space to do so at the bottom of each blog.  If you would like to contribute to this site please send us a request using our contact form located here.

So, instead of flipping on your TV tonight and letting the day's worries slip away in the steady flow of superficial news your brain is normally flooded with - we encourage you to take a look at the alternative.  We encourage our readers to consume something with a little more balance, a few more questions, and much greater relevance to the current state of humanity.

For persistent apathy, chronic boredom and a general lack of interest in society the Surgeon General recommends a bi-weekly dose of a mental salve called:

The News Bastards.