You’ll be happy to know I have no intention of “tweeting” every part of my day.  But, if you want to receive personal notification each time I post a new blog …this is an easy way to do it. And, you will also get an ADVANCE heads up of my next blog’s subject matter and posting date.

I’ll  also throw in there a few more details (than I do here) about personal plans, travels and happenings to you, as one of my “insiders”. 

Here’s the link to sign up and follow my tweets:  http://twitter.com/#!/HarveyOberfeld

Enjoy … or ignore.

And by the way, since there are no ads on this blog, no revenues,  so no promotion or advertising anywhere,  feel free to  spread the word about Keeping it Real  to your friends/contacts on Twitter,   so we can expand the conversation …  and confound the MSM. 

Harv Oberfeld

And her recent response to some nasty insults and name-calling in comments she witnessed on my blog prompted me to think about what blogging is really all about.

Here’s Laila’s note:

“Harv, I don’t know about you, but I have increasingly found that readers have expectations of what we should, or should not write. As you mentioned above, ( paraphrasing) when we hit the mark of their choosing, we are hero’s, when we use the same tools and viewpoint applied to their baby, we become the enemy.
I called one long time reader on it about a few weeks ago, when I said Harry Lali deserves a big fail for coming out and welcoming middle aged white men back to the NDP.

Wow. One comment in particular surprised me when it was stated they expected much more of me than that, that it was not at all on the level of my other work.

I asked the reader if I had done the exact same report on a Liberal candidate, if they would have approved, and they admitted yes, they would, but they loved Harry and felt it wasn’t fair.

After seeing both parties fail us on many issues for the last couple of years, I consider it my duty as a resident of BC, to question anyone and everyone looking to lead this provincial government, NDP , Liberal or otherwise. I don’t care if someone chooses to vote NDP or not, but I do think after being lied and deceived for so long, that no one should be taking any candidate at face value,regardless of polical bent.

Keep on, keeping on Harv. I for one, value your opinion and views, whether we  agree or not. You have been a very welcome addition to the blogosphere.”

Thanks, Laila.

I decided to blog a response, instead of just writing a comment response, because I think it’s well worth considering who the bloggers really serve and why we do it.

As many of my readers have already noticed, I have no ads on my blog; I get no revenue … in fact, it actually costs me dough, because I pay for use of the server/company where it is all handled/stored. I also allow other select sites to republish my blog without paying any compensation.

Why do I do it?  Well, ever since i was 11 years old and had my first comments published in the Montreal Gazette ..I’ve always had a lot to say. 

First there were student articles on a newspaper’s kids page, then letters to the editor, then I became a real reporter at my university newspaper, a corporate newsletter and finally the BIG time…thr Saskatoon Star Phoenix.  From there, I’ve never looked back, telling stories and yapping for four decades.  And I’m not going to let a little thing like retirement stop me now. (Actually the blog was my friend Chris’s idea .. to give me an outlet for my writing and views, and maybe also to  shut me up a little on politics etc when we take our long walks.)

And it’s fun! Gives me some continued presence in media world: enough to make the Top 10 on Vision’s alleged Hit List of journalists …four years after I retired! (I was flattered.)  And I really like to think I still have some interesting ideas/observations to impart, even if people may disagree with my views.

 That’s what makes blogging really great… it gives bloggers a medium to express themselves and it allows instant response/discussion of issues and ideas that the MSM simply cannot instantly offer on air, in their newspapers or news programs.

We do …and it works.  What better proof of that than the fact bloggers are blocked, harrassed, arrested in all the dictatorships that still permeate the world.

But bloggers, even here, do pay a price: if they simply disagree with you,  there are those who respond with all kinds of insults and name-calling; derision; bullying tactics; and filthy language.  And they also try to name call and insult other commenters on the blog as well. (I  won’t publish a lot of that.)

Which brings me back to Laila’s note.

Forget about them, Laila.  People who respond like that are nobodies, low-level intellects and who would likely never talk to us that way in person, but probably hurl invective and  insults at well at anyone they deal with anonymously:  telephone operators; service providers; phone retail clerks/complaint handlers … and bloggers. 

The only thing that really worries me about such people is that I fear they may also treat their spouses, children and family members like that as well. That’s troublesome.

But Laila, THEY are not the ones we blog for or try to challenge.  In fact, most of those who read our blogs never write in or comment. However, they read because they like to be informed, sometimes entertained, but almost always, made to think … even if they disagree. And just by reading blogs, they are also participating in the great democratic process, even if they don’t realize it. (Ask those in China, Iran, North Korea,  denied access to the political  blogosphere,  what I mean.)

Of course, the real GOLD are the blog readers who respond, write in and add new information.  Even if they disagree with everything I have written, I value them tremendously because they do make me think, help educate me and substantially improve the debate. Substantially! 

 And the detailed arguments some lay out, taking a good deal of time and effort, are my favorites:  I take them as a compliment to the improtance of what wew are all doing here …even if they take an opposite position. (Wrong as they are!

Those on the fringe, Laila, will always be there; just as in society in general. And by shouting and insults … like the madman walking down the street, shouting wildlyand hurling his wrath skyward,  everyone notices … and they draw more attention than they should.But no one is really impressed.

But they  ust never be allowed by the majority to take over the dialogue, bully the debaters, or sully the overall richness of the blogoshere.

Blog on!

Harv Oberfeld

Now is a good time to catch up or re-read some of those ideas by clicking/search the various subject areas in the archives.  And feel free to add your comments to those too … they will get posted and probably evoke interesting responses as well. 

Chat again Nov. 15.

Harv Oberfeld

 And according to 24 Hours reporter Bob Mackin (who is a mere No. 12) Vision’s insiders have decided they “need to do something about” the 15 of us on what the newspaper called Vision’s media ”hit list” 

Stalin would be so proud!

But I have to confess:   I’ve been on much bigger loathed lists than Vision’s! 

Let’s see … in 35 years of reporting… there was, of course, Lucien Bouchard, who tried to slide, skate and slip away from some tough questions from this BRITISH Columbian, and finally, in exasperation,  demanded a question in French from the scrum …so I asked the same questions:  en francais.  I’m sure I made it on his list … but it wasn’t for Christmas greetings..

When I worked on the Hill in Ottawa,  I also got the last “Fuddle Duddle” from Pierre Trudeau before he left office … after a story in which I quoted him was raised in the Commons by NDP MP Ian Waddell. And Trudeau was furious. (But when we met a few years later in First Class on a flight from Asia (I was on points! he was friendly and we reminisced … even spending time together in an otherwise empty departure lounge away from the crowds on a refueling/passenger stop in Hong Kong).

As for the NDP, I’ve also had the affable (ha!) Jack Layton walk away from me when I apparently pressed him too hard. And I hear some of my blogs on the provincial NDP’s  election campaigning, leader, policies etc  also haven’t gone over too well. (No Order of BC for me when they get in!

And Mulroney used to hate it when … after he often pretended not to hear my pointed questions on why his government had so much funding so often for Quebec and so little so seldom for B.C … so I’d simply ask ”Have you got a moment for Western Canadians, Sir?” as he strolled by deafly … and I’d  use that on air… along with my own signature on camera ending:” I guess not!”  Grrrr!

“Harvey, I like you better without the microphone,”  Mulroney wrote on a PMO picture snapped of me trying to question him on the Hill.  But I was never audited by Canada Revenue … thanks Brian! 

And then there’s Gordon Campbell: known him since the early 70s, when he was assistant to Mayor Art Phillips and I covered City Hall for the Vancouver Sun … right through to my retirement in 2006.  When I called his Press Secretary Mike Morton to inform him in advance of the pending announcement, he told me the Premier would be calling me.  Still waiting!   Must have been on some list of his too!

And even amongst my media colleagues, I have asked such tough questions and written such critical articles on this blog, trying to defend the craft from deterioration, I was called “Judas” by my old Assignment Editor and am no longer invited to station retirement parties etc.

After a couple of years of blogging, I was also dropped by the Jack Webster Awards as a judge. And no Lifetime Achievement Award for me, despite all my previous winnings, and journalistic accomplishments! I guess I wasn’t corporate enough …  those who fund the thing.  But I believe Jack, who was instrumental in getting me to join BCTV,  would still really be proud of me .. and this blog, especially my media critiques.

As you can see, I was … and believe I still am …an equally motivated sh*t disturber …. asking tough questions of all those in power ….  and not just being satisfied with “a c lip” … any clip.  The readers and viewers deserve  real answers to real questions.

What too many politicians never seem to grasp is that when they are IN POWER, the  real journalist … who was so sympathetic to them in opposition or on the fringe … has a whole new role to play.

We should ask tough questions; we must expose the flaws in their plans; we do enjoy using their own old quotes against them when they,  now in power,  change positions; and it’s our job to ferret out clips where they call citizens hacks, to expose any waste of public funds, to report rewards to their friends or turn into dictators, pushing their agendas, without accommodation or care or concern for those they hurt in the process.

So Im proud to still be in the Top 10 … thanks to this little blog.

And Vision should consider themselves lucky! After all … I’m retired!  If still working, I would try even harder,  to be Number One!

Harv Oberfeld

Back blogging in about a week.  Have some good stuff to tell you!

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Time to take a break … and rest up for the pre-Olympics onslaught. And get away to the sun….

The Blog will be back just after mid-January.

Meanwhile to all … the very best for the Holiday Season, a Happy New Year … and a five-out-of-six Lottery win for each of you. (I want the six-out-of-six myself!

Harv Oberfeld

I was absolutely floored by the number of former co-workers who, in the course of our schmoozing and personal updates, also  thanked me and praised me for “keeping it real” here on these pages; telling it like it is today in the news business; and not the way management and the p.r. promoters pretend it to be.

My blogging on the media has once more been vindicated.

There was one dissenter … a management type (surprise!) who refused to shake my hand and called me “Judas” … I suspect for being so publicly critical since my retirement of how I feel news has changed, and not for the better.   Funny thing, though, my blog has no advertising, no revenues … just lays out the truth from my perpective. And really, if you think of it, the real “Judas” would be someone who advances and embraces the new lower standards,  in return for silver … lots of it.

But thankfully, as Cable’s night showed me, there are still many real journalists and camera operators and editors … very skilled people,  with mortgages to pay and families to raise ,who still work in the industry … but remain true to their craft and are honest enough to acknowledge the reality of what now surrounds them, and hope for better days down the line.

Even the guest of honour, in his own remarks, remembered the great days of the PAST (what does that tell you?)  and how stories used to be told with cameramen who were right in there, consistently pushing the story themselves to a higher level and even calling out, demanding answers to tough questions.

Now, in case you’re wondering, this was not a company party: I no longer get invited to those. LOL!

Global feted Cable’s 38-years of service with a morning cake and coffee celebration in the company cafeteria. They used to mark long-time retirements with evening beer and food bashes in a private function room at a pub near the station.  But times are indeed tough at Global!  Hope Tony won’t feel slighted if they just do a cake and coffee celebration for him. 

The party I was invited to was put on by Cable’s former co-workers and friends … and it was great to be together again with so many who were part of BCTV’s ground-breaking days, when cameras told the story, and editors cut first to pictures, with reporters writing to the edited version.

And there happily were even some relative newcomers who also know and understand the potential of storytelling, good writing,  the value of pictures and the real difference between breaking hard news and just pushing puffery.   

Real reporters (old and new)  and news junkies remember the days when BCTV reporters broke stories almost daily; when hard questions were the norm and not the exception; when investigative features regularly gripped the attention of viewers;  and when politicians dreaded to see reporters approaching, not just greet them with smiles.

Times have changed … and I don’t believe for the better.

But it was good to see so many paying tribute to what local news used to be … and hopefully one day will be again. 

And acknowledging the worst thing we can all possibly do is just remain silent and let the corporate bean counters keep watering down the soup in the belief no one will notice, say anything or care.

Harv Oberfeld

 I’m old enough that I can still remember with fondness the local convenience stores on Monkland Ave., in the area of Montreal where I was raised: Stanley’s; Dexter’s: and, Nickel’s.

The apostrophe “s” at the end of each store name was because these were the real names of the owners. ‘And they were also neighborhood residents and even if you were just buying bubble gum cards (5 cents) or a soda pop (five cents … and two cent bottle deposit) they knew you, your family and  were fun places to visit and shop.  And yes, even linger, like kids these days at the 7-11.

But today too many neighbourhood stores have given way to big, bright  impersonal “convenience” stores … run too often by people without any apparent sense of neighbourhood or neighbourliness.  They are just part of huge franchise operations that seem to measure success in terms of thousands of stores rather than friendliness or being “good neighbours”.

But never have I ever encountered the rudeness and what I would describe as a total ripoff  I’ve observed at the local 7-11 “neighbourhood” store at West 10th and Alma in Vancouver.

It certainly has been a very convenient place to stop  …. with its own parking lot,  a post office inside, a bakery next door, and a pet store three doors away.

Yes, it was “convenient” ….   until a couple of months ago , when they started what I call “The Big 7-11 Ripoff “.

 Like other stores and groceries, they would, of course,  always charge the required enironmental deposts on all drink containers … up to 20 cents each, deepnding on size. And until a couple of months ago, they would refund your “deposit” when you returned the empties.

BUT try and return them for your deposit now  …  and you get a  “No..we don’t take them back”  …  in my case,   hurled at me quite rudely, adding insult to injury.

Some neighbours!

I think it’s a despicable business practice to CHARGE a consumer a deposit on every bottled or canned drink purchased ; and then REFUSE to take them back for refund, when the empties are returned!

Of course, I left without buying all the goods I had placed on the counter. (I never, ever just take the cash).

So what do they do now? Just pocket all the deposits they collect …  and let other shopkeepers shell out for their returns?  Is this a good neighborhood business?  Not in my book!

It may seem like a simple, small matter … but  if it becomes a widespread policy done by a huge multi-national corporation like 7-11, with thousands of stores, the ripoff of consumers can add up to MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.   No spare change matter at all!

Now, to be honest, we actually give away MOST of our empties … pop cans, beer bottles and cans, other drink containers ….  to the dumpster divers that pass regularly through our laneway.  And I can say that after some weeks and weekends … the pop can count from my home alone brings a smile  to some of our recycling patrollers.

But for some reason, the big 2-litre bottles are usually brought back to the store  … throwback to my university days?  … or maybe because a couple of bucks does soften the impact of the inflated prices at the “convenience” store!

So when the “new” policy of REFUSAL was first thrown at me some months ago at the West 10th/Alma 7-11  … I filed an online  complaint with 7-11 corporate headquarters.  (Never dump on an old retired sh*t disturber, who after 38 years in the news business is still armed with  a sense of justice, belief in consumer rights and fairness and has lots of time on his hands! .

To their credit 7-11 corporate HQ acted: they must have understood my logic that if you have to bring your 7-11 bottles to Safeway for refund, you might as well buy your bread, milk, eggs etc there too!  Clearly smarter business minds at HQ than at the West 10th and Alma 7-11. And apparently more able to calculate the financial implications if that “no returns” policy was implemented by franchisees throughout their chain… and realize how that would simply encourage customers to shop elsewhere.

So it didn’t take long before  I received a call from someone who identified himself as one of the West 10th/Alma co-owners: he  blamed a “new” cashier, promising the store would accept all bottle returns from then on …aha … a  Victory for the neighbourhood …  and he even offered me a free slurpee!  (I declined.)

And  I started shopping there again … amassing a new collection (seven) of 2-litre empties … which I tried to return at the same store Saturday. “We don’t take bottles” said the manager of the day … a long-time regular staffer I have  dealt with there many, many times over many. many months … maybe even years. … no new employee this time. 

“But … ” I said, “I’ve been through this here before.” Before I could even get my explanation out … he dismissed me with a wave of his hand and walked through a door into the Employees Only area.

Some way to treat a regular customer! Some way to treat anyone! Some way to represent 7-11 !!!

I felt embarrassed … and angry. What a ripoff!  Is it even legal?? Some neighbour! Some neighbourhood store! Is this the new face of 7-11?

Are these chains so big now that their  franchisees know they can get away with pretty well anything?  Ripoffs and Rudeness included? 

 Of course,  they lost my business … but they probably figure they  have thousands more! But over time, they may be surprised … neighbourhoods are funny that way: word gets around.

And I suspect I’m not the only one who has suffered the refusal to honour returns  and the dismissive rudeness I encountered at the West 10th/Alma 7-11.

In some way, I believe it’s also  all part of the declining civility in our society … as more and more little neighborhood stores, hardware, stationery stores etc go “international”. Little we can do about most of them.

But convenience stores ARE different: it will be very easy for me to find an alternative to the West 10th/Alma 7-11.  There are several other convenience stores within a few blocks  … and  even the so-called chain (what else?)  ”drug stores” not far away now carry a wide variety of food products …bread, butter, milk, eggs etc. etc  …  at lower prices than 7-11.  And yes, they all take bottle returns… and some even give out Reward points!

Clearly the West 10th/Alma 7-11 can expect to be increasingly on the losing end of the competition … in my opinion,  with very good reason

So much for neighborhood shopping and neighborhood loyalty: I’m sure I am not the only one turned off and turning away from the West 10th/Alma 7-11.

And frankly, making it worse, I’m turned off  trying other stores in the 7-11 chain as well.  My embarrassment and anger Saturday was quite enough to last quite a while.

I urge you too to be forewarned …  before you  deal with them. 

Harv Oberfeld

Geoff was a BCTV microwave truck/camera operator. And it was on the morning of this day ten years ago that Geoff was setting up the BCTV microwave truck outside Delta Secondary School so I could do a “live hit” into the Noon News, when something went tragically wrong.

The microwave mast atop the truck accidentally contacted a 14.4 kv Hydro line above, and Geoff was electrocuted. Witnesses reported a large bang … and power for several blocks around was cut … but only briefly.

What many people did not … and still do not know … is that many Hydro lines have a built in re-start sequence that is triggered about a minute after an initial failure, in case the line breach was caused by a bird or squirrel etc.

And so the power returned, again striking Geoff, who was laying on the ground, his foot still touching the truck.  The power arc, I understand, would have spread through the ground as much as thirty feet.  Had I or anyone been immediately close by and rushed over to help … before someone could shout to stay away… the results would have been even more tragic.    

But I was saved that day … in a way I still don’t quite understand and sometimes find difficult to think about.

Punctuality was always a hallmark of my career: when assigned to a story on location, I had a penchant for always arriving early, allowing lots of time for traffic or parking problems, to scope out the site, talk to people behind the scenes to get some extra information or get a prime reporting or camera spot for our story.

That day, I just couldn’t get going! It was a Saturday … a usually fairly relaxed news day for me and I was not expecting to have to do a “hit” for the Noon News,  so when I checked in with my office by phone at 9 a.m., I hadn’t even finished breakfast or showered yet.

“Head to Delta Secondary,” I was told, to cover a day-long event surrounding some issue I have already forgotten, and do a live broadcast into the Nooner with an invited guest they had already arranged.  

I hurriedly finished breakfast, grabbed a shower, dressed and headed out …. but traffic on Oak Street and Highway 99 was unusually high for a Saturday mid-morning. I was clearly running late … late enough to phone the guest and apologize and assure him I was on the way and would get there a.s.a.p.

But I remember being embarrassed: that was “not” me: I was always early and I was hurrying, even speeding where I could to get to Delta Secondary.

But just before I  drove by the Ladner London Drugs mall … the lights went out …traffic lights, all the store lights in the London Drugs mall and nearby shops as well.  I alerted my office by phone to the problem and possible additional story.

Little did I know of the tragedy that awaited me a few blocks away.

I know had I been on site, I would have been standing right near Geoff, suiting up with microphone and earpiece and if not struck myself by the power burst would certainly have rushed over to help .. totally unaware of the Hydro “restart” mechanism.

All I could do when I arrived was watch …. and then, with a second cameraman, John M. , who had been inside the school doing some shooting,  and had the strength to videotape the accident scene outside when he emerged … knowing it could become very important evidence in any ensuing investigation.  We also both had the presence of mind to interview witnesses immediately to get their recollection of what happened on record, along with their names and, in this case, their phone numbers as well. 

I also did the story for that night’s Newshour!!!  My most horrible day on the job, ever. But I wanted to do the story … for Geoff.  And working with my close friend and editor, Karl A., we did our job.

We edited in an edit suite, with a sheet covering the glass doors to prevent prying eyes and Karl would not even let me see all the footage John had taken. He edited the segments together, using only the most general photos,  and only then had me turn around to record my script.

But we all did our jobs and our story, as I believe Geoff would have wanted us to do.

That night, as I spent the evening with friends, it really hit me that Geoff was no more, and how close I had come, in an instant, to losing my own life. It was all very surreal .. just driving home and watching everyone going about their “usual” Saturday night.

Meanwhile, what had caused me to be so unusually tardy in waking that day, getting ready for work and delayed me from making it to my assignment I still do not understand.

But I never forget Geoff Fisher …. and remember him often, not just on Feb. 13, when everyone should think about the sacrifice too many pay, around the world, to bring us the news coverage and are so often taken for granted.

Geoff was 36.

Harv Oberfeld 

It should be an interesting one: with a bountiful provincial budget in February setting up the B.C. election looming May 12;  resumption of the Canadian drama, tragedy or comedy … “Parliament on Parade”; and, unfortunately,  several international crises to sadden, anger, frustrate and maybe occasionally even uplift us all in 2009.

But before all  that … I need to rest up again!   :)  

So the blog will be down for a few weeks, while I escape to the sun once more … researching the continuing benefits of retirement .. before the declining markets and savings force me to ask: “Would you like fries with that?”

Happy New Year! Back mid-February….

Regards,

Harv Oberfeld