Seedy practice
Many of you have, possibly, seen the video of a doctor who was asked to leave an United Airlines flight because there was no room for some of the company’s employees.
The doctor refused to leave and it escalated to the point where security man handled the passenger and, literally, dragged him off the plane. I’m not defending the airline here at all.
Overbooking is a seedy practice that must be stopped. Even if it requires governments to intervene. Asking passengers who are already seated and waiting to get to their destination is classless.
Let’s establish all of that because I don’t have any sympathy for the doctor being dragged off the plane. To me, he should’ve got himself together and left the aircraft and accepted a lump sum of money for his trouble.
Then, he should’ve gone straight to the media with his complaint and done everything in his power to bring awareness to the situation. Acting like a two year old solves nothing, but after I posted a similar comment on a social media site on Monday afternoon, it was quickly revealed to me that society has degenerated to the point where many folks said the doctor was right to hold his ground and force security to drag him away.
I’m also sure the airline has some legalese in their ticket contracts that state they can remove you from an airplane whenever they like. To me, once you can see that there is no option and you are leaving the plane either by force or on your own accord, you leave. Be the bigger person.
Disciplinary overreach
A Saskatchewan nurse has been fined $1000 plus an additional $25,000 for hearing costs incurred in relation to a disciplinary hearing related to her complaint that she aired on social media about the level of the ‘end of life’ care her father was receiving at a facility in Macklin.
The nurse is wrong to take her grievance to social media without, first, going through proper channels. If she followed procedure and got nowhere then I’m all for using whatever means are available to get a resolution. But, the $25,000 fine is killing a mosquito with a jack hammer.
I think the SRNA (Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association) is making an example of the woman to warn any other potential employees about raising their voice opposing SRNA.
I can’t find anywhere, in news stories that I’ve searched, that this woman was incorrect about the level of care. Instead, the focus was on how she complained.
Fine the woman. Make corrections in the level of care or else launch a campaign to make people aware the accusation is false.
Instead, they made sure to muzzle the messenger and any other potential nurses who may find themselves at moral odds with the governing body.
Confusing situation
I don’t think anyone wants to see World War III, but the notion that Donald Trump is igniting one is silly.
The Syrian government gassing its own citizens is what has escalated emotions. The pundits who claimed Trump was, merely, a Putin puppet have got pretty quiet over the last week.
The United States attacking Syria doesn’t sit well at all with Russia, and that’s what makes this entire conflict confusing.
The Syrian government is battling ISIS and Russia is helping them do that. The United States is also battling ISIS, but there is no love for Assad.
Then you have Saudi Arabia, who doesn’t get along with Russia and doesn’t like ISIS, yet their human rights violations are appalling.
Riders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders will have a mini camp this weekend in Florida and all eyes will be on Vince Young.
The former NFL quarterback, who’s been a virtual couch potato for the last six years, is taking a crash course in CFL football with eyes set on being the Rider starter come June.
To me, he’s a one year wonder no matter how you cut it. If he’s great, he’s gone to the NFL. If he shows promise, he’s gone to the NFL. If he’s terrible, he goes back to the couch.
Regardless, if Darian Durant stays upright for 18 games and the Montreal Alouettes have a successful season, it will be a damning indictment on Chris Jones and how he judges talent.
Leafs
Funny how sports media and fans like to rewrite narratives to suit their own agendas. Many Leaf fans have told me there was no point in the Winnipeg Jets trying to shore up their goaltending situation this year because they’d just squeak into the playoffs and get eliminated in round one anyway.
However, the story changes as we are told the Leafs are playing with house money and have nothing to lose as they enter the playoffs, having limped down the finish and almost coughed up their spot.
These same fans and talking heads will tell you how it’s an invaluable experience just to be involved in playoff hockey.
Sports axed
Apparently CTV Vancouver and CTV Calgary cut it’s entire sports department last week. You know, if you can’t afford to run a television station...don’t.
Nice people
Nice person mentions this week: Perry Hubbard, Scott Schultz, Rod Pedersen, France Stricker, Nancy Oremba, and Wendy Fisher.
