Traditional press and broadcasters face constraints that dictate silence or one-sided reporting on many issues and they're seldom willing to kick the shins of economic and political interests. (Ian Jessop is an exception and his Bell Media bosses deserve thanks.) A blog like this one has no advertisers to dictate what is said and no industry organizations or commercial operations spreading cash to influence content.
I don't expect readers to agree with everything said here but I'm proud that thousands find it regularly worth attention. I'm also proud to know and appreciate other bloggers who write sincere opinions and information about public issues. I find much of it thought provoking and informative and some of it even argument provoking. Many blogs are well researched and well written; others are the opposite, most are somewhere between those poles.
However, readers will typically find content somewhere that suits their individual interests. Most of us are comfortable with material that reflects the opinions we already hold and, while understandable, that's unfortunate if it prevents us from challenging our own attitudes. I believe that we can have dialogue with people who hold different points of view and we can do that with mutual respect. It's always disappointing when potential contributors to this blog ignore civility and act like anonymity gives licence to spread misinformation or say anything. Their efforts quickly move into the deleted file. I'll tolerate disagreement but I won't tolerate libel or invective. Happily, there's not much of that.
Again, to all, but especially the regulars and financial supporters, thank you. It's your involvement as readers that makes this effort worthwhile. I hope we can make it more relevant to us and our neighbours.
Merry Christmas Norm .... to you & your family. And thanks for all the great reading. Your research is very appreciated.
ReplyDeleteGuy in Victoria
Merry Christmas, Norm.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Mr. Farrell....
ReplyDeleteLike you and Mound of Sound above, we all look forward to challenging the status quo in 2015...
2015....The year where alternate internet media rises above all others, our numbers are growing, as is our influence, relevance and power.
Twitter followers be damned.
Good Day
Merry Christmas Norm
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your family and lets give it to'em in 2015!
ReplyDeletemerry Christmas to you and your's,
ReplyDeleteand a very healthy New Year!
Cheers,
Gary L.
Norm, may you and your family have a wonderful Christmas season.
ReplyDeleteI'd want to add my thanks for the well researched material at Northern Insights. It is one of handful of worthwhile blogs about current affairs in B.C. and the sidebar links to other sites are my starting points for each day.
ReplyDeleteThank you Norman, for providing us with such excellent information. Merry Christmas and here's to a dynamic 2015!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and yours, Norm, and thanks so much for all you do........
ReplyDeleteDave Olson
Nanaimo BC
.. the 'alternative media' .. Well, one way to describe the canaries in the coal mine .. !
ReplyDeleteKeep on keeping on.. Like all the other exemplars of indy blogging, indy journalism, your efforts are priceless, your concerns or outrage only too valid. Whenever possible, I show friends & associates the contrast between the content & perspective you provide versus the ignorant bumph of government, their energy partners & lobbyists.
In Canada as a whole.. and of course in particular to your area - BC.. what is at stake from rogue governments & conglomerates ruling over the citizenry.. is whether pollution, destruction of ecology & culture, extirpation of species.. extreme erosion of democracy will take place.
Back to my earlier message.. The clear evidence of how government, political parties & their resource partners are trying to swindle Canada and Canadians, must be made highly visible and accessible, on a daily basis, to our entire population along with an electorate that can recognize Right vs Wrong
Canadian Values are not what comes from the mouths of carpetbaggers, monarchists, rapturists, narcissists, evangel ideologues & political animals. Teachers children firefighters parents loggers doctors truckers artists accountants biologists etc are the generators of Values and must also step forward when a country named Canada is under attack from within..
Merry Christmas and God bless you and your family. You might be the most important "journalist" in our provence right now, as ironic as that is. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteI agree with other expressions of thanks for the effort that goes into this blog. I was sceptical when i first started reading your blog so I checks facts for myself. At first I didn't believe your claims about natural resource revenues going down since I knew that production increases and higher prices for most commodities should have had revenue numbers going up. A little reading of Finance Ministry documents showed you are correct. Now, I refer friend to this blog and tell them to read it and check facts for themselves.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and Happy New Year Norm! Look forward to more excellent analysis and thought provoking journalism from you in 2015.
ReplyDelete