Need Separation in Westmount, QC

The City of Westmount and its elected officials are once again
supporting a Chanukah Party, and a Christmas Tree Lighting Party this coming December. I say, for shame.

Not that I have any opposition to any person conducting a religious
ceremony on their private land, in religious sanctuaries, or in a
private home. But the action when held on municipal property–with
municipal support–violates my belief that there must be absolute
separation of church and state. Squeezing in these annual ceremonies,
in my opinion, is as repugnant as being told how to vote by a rabbi or
a minister.

I have complained about this practice before, only to have it fall
upon deaf ears. For those deaf ears, I refer you to a YouTube video
of the late American President John F. Kennedy entitled, JFK: Church and State.

The Province of Quebec has a long and sordid history of church-run
governments and the last vestige of that unfortunate acceptance
remains. I do not support the payment of taxes going toward supporting
church and synagogue activities. Not one penny.

If I should choose to donate funds to the church of my calling, so be
it. But the City of Westmount ought to separate public activities from
religious activities. And the lighting of Christmas trees and a
menorah fall into the latter category.

Now, if the City of Westmount would like to make the pedestrian lights
at the corner of Greene and Dorchester safer, I would applaud that.

Margie Golick’s Book Launch

MARGIE GOLICK’S BOOK LAUNCH
The Life and Rhymes of a Jewish Mother
Temple Emanu-el Beth Sholom
4100 Sherbrooke St. W. (enter at 395 Elm)
Westmount, QC H3Z 1A5

5:00 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 4

Come celebrate with us. Have a glass of wine, listen to some readings by author Margie Golick.
Meet illustrator Jane Churchill.
All welcome.

A Bill to Stop Bell from Billing for Bills

Let’s face it, charging $2 for sending out a monthly telephone or internet paper bill is. . . billshit.

I’m looking for creative ways to stop Bell Canada from billking its valued customers. You can help, and one lucky person will win a fresh Canadian $1 bill. Just submit your non-violent, creative idea to Lockeblog before midnight Dec 31, 2012. One idea will be chosen by me, Jack Locke, and the submitter will receive the $1 bill. Your comments are welcomed.

Bell Bill Bull

Bell Canada Enterprises lists “Improve Customer Service,” as a strategic imperative. Yet, they started charging customers $2 to receive a paper bill for telephone and internet services.

“I say, keep your damn bill!”

(LEGAL NOTICE: BCE, its employees, agents, and representatives who read this post will be subject to a $2 million fee.)

My letter to The Gazette on BCE’s $2 fee will be discussed on Montreal’s CJAD Aaron Rand show
Monday, Nov. 19, 3 – 7 PM
http://www.cjad.com/Shows/AaronRandShow.aspx

In 2011, BCE reported revenues of $19.5 Billion. So why gouge your valued customers? Thomas C. O’Neill, BCE Board Chair, let’s talk.

You identify certain risks to your business:

“Improved customer service and an enhanced perception of
Bell’s service offerings by existing and potential customers are
critical to increasing customer retention and ARPU and attracting
new customers. There is a risk that we will not be able to retain
existing or acquire new customers if our products, services and
service experience do not meet customer expectations.”

Exactly! So? Make customers pay $2 for their bill?

The federal New Democrats have started a campaign against what they call, Stop Pay-to-Pay Fees. They want folks to sign their petition. Their site is at: http://www.ndp.ca/stop-pay-to-pay-fees

It is really, really rotten when megalithic corporations run roughshod over citizens, and megalomaniacal governments don’t want to hear about it.

Poetry reading tomorrow – Montreal

Hello,

Just wanted to invite all my friends to a reading by Margie Golick at the Atwater Library at 12:30, Thurs., Nov. 15.. She’ll be reading from her new book, The Life and Rhymes of a Jewish Mother. Mazel Tov.

I recommend the book highly – as editor, I know you don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy humorous verse.

The Atwater Library is at 1200 Atwater, 1 blk south of Ste. Catherine. (Metro Atwater.)