Remaindered

I haven't been blogging lately as I have been trying to finish my book. The end is in sight.
On Boxing Day we went up to Bloor West Village to buy our Christmas cards for next year. Fifty per cent off Hallmark cards. I've also been reading quite a lot. I read "Hardcore Troubadour - The Life and Near Death of Steve Earle" by Lauren St John. A remainder-bin hardback bargain for $4.49 CDN. Not much more than the price of week-end newspaper. The fate of all authors. The book is sympathetic to Steve Earle, although no hagiography. It is hard to like a man who is abusing every substance known to man [and some you've never heard of]. On balance if you like Steve Earle's music it is probably best not to read this book.
I've just finished "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid" by Bill Bryson. Thirty per cent off at Chapters, additional ten per cent with iREWARDS card. Heavy discount. The fate of all authors. This is a potboiler to keep his publisher happy with much evidence of third-party padding. He's still in love with the 'F' word. Bryson dropped out of University it seems but, in this day and age, no impediment to his becoming Chancellor of Durham University, my old college. Money conquers all.
I've also been listening to an audiobook of Garrison Keillor doing his live Lake Wobegon skits on Prairie Home Companion. I am struck by the similarities between Bryson and Keillor: midwest whimsy right down to the jokes about Lutherans. Funny I find I am nostalgic about a past I never knew. Is this why I am spending my declining years here in North America?
Last Friday night to Hugh's Room, on Roncevalles, for "Girls play the Boys" concert. Mostly girl folkies doing male songs. Exceptional standard with many different acts.

Hogtown City Limits III

The press here in Toronto are expressing surprise that an individual unconnected with the Toronto Transit Commission has produced a transit map far superior to those issued by the commission itself.
How can it be that one bright man in his spare time can outwit all the sinecurists, consultants, committee wallahs, and meddling politicians in Hogtown?
Their surprise is based on a lack of understanding. Bureaucracies can never agree on an action plan; a bureaucrat's greatest pleasure is to thwart the plans of his fellow bureaucrat. They do not live in a competitive world so the "customer," or passenger in this case, will get what they are given from a cult of mediocrity.
Toronto's "large imperfect" Mayor, David Miller has recently installed placeman Adam Giambrone as TTC Commissioner. According to the Globe and Mail Giambrone thinks the map is "cool."
The TTC have apparently been goaded into a website redesign which is going out to tender. Bring on the sinecurists, consultants, committee wallahs, and meddling politicians.
For more Hogtown folly go here and here and here.

Greedy Greene King lose out

News from Lewes and the Lewes Arms boycott indicates that Greedy King [the new Watney's] is losing the battle of the beers. Readers will recall that they took out the Harvey's beer against the wishes of the customers, who now drink elsewhere.
The Suffolk accountants will be getting a daily message from the till that all is not well. Presumably they also have a load of Suffolk beer on their hands that they can't sell. Oh what a shame, never mind!
Don't say they weren't warned. For more see PunchBuggy passim here and here.

Hand in your pocket

I'm supposed to be having a day away from the news but the consultants won't let me.
See PunchBuggy passim here and here.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Greetings to all readers of PunchBuggy.

Brown in denial

The Telegraph reports it "is a "dirty tricks" operation being orchestrated by his enemies within Labour..."
With friends like these.

An Inspector Calls

While Blair meets Knacker at Number Ten, Brown is now a person of interest it seems. Whiter than white, purer than pure.