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Photo credit Joan Bateman

SpotLight / Passion Portrait Project 2017 Beverley Bateman is an artist beyond the expectations of most patrons of the arts. Not only do her novels illuminate images on the canvas of our minds ....she actually paints incredible vista’s we can visualize with the eye! Spotlight was privileged to photograph and interview one of Medicine Hat's newest artisans. She spoke with grace and elegance only years of maturity as an artist affords.We are privileged to introduce her to our community. We are expecting great things from this talented woman. The arts community of our city will gain dramatically from this new influx of talent and experience from this nationally recognized artist. Seek her out you will not be disappointed.

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THIS ISSUES

CONTENTS Front Cover Photo Credit

Joan Bateman 5

Psy. D.,R. Psych. Midlife and Loss

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Clinical Psychologist Columnist Dr. Wendy Froberg

The Fashion Files Gainsboro Spotlight

12 Politics The Magical, Mystical, Miraculous, Minimum Wage

Columnist Brent Dunstan 14

EDITORIAL

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Law

EDITORIAL

War

Scott Cowan

Talking to the Police

Columnist Scott Stenbeck

Manfrotto

Scott Cowan

18 Golf The Green Side Bunker Shot

Columnist Donald Crawley

EDITOR

EMAIL

SCOTT COWAN (403) 504-7092

scott-cowan@live.com

ART DIRECTOR

377 - 4 Street SE Medicine Hat, AB T1A 0K4

JOAN BATEMAN joan@gainsboro.ca

SpotLight ry e v a u o y s e wish s a m t s i r h C Merry

GRAPHICS DIRECTOR

HEATHER COONS PHOTOGRAPHY

GAINSBORO STUDIOS

PHONE (403) 526-3054

ADDRESS

For a complimentary subscription to Spotlight, forward your email to:

info@spotlightmagazine.ca

Published and Printed by Spotlight Magazine

Disclaimer: No responsibility can be taken by Spotlight Magazine for any errors or omissions contained herein. Furthermore, responsibility for any losses, damages or distress resulting from adherence to any information made available through this magazine is not the responsibility of Spotlight Magazine. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Spotlight Magazine. Comments are welcome.

Photo Credit Joan Bateman

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Photo Credit Joan Bateman

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Our Cover this Month Features Super Stars R

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potlight caught up with Tom and Rita at the Tribeca Film Festival. Moments before Tom walked up to our correspondent and celebrity photographer Joan Bateman, another journalist accidentally unplugged the battery to her camera. As Joan frantically tried to get reconnected, she slipped her cell phone under her arm to facilitate getting the cords reattached. At that moment our cover stepped up and said, hello. She raised her arm for a shot, forgetting her iPhone. It fell to the sidewalk cracking the screen. Tom immediately asked if it was okay.

Laughing he said, “Well you’ll

have a good story how it

was broken.” To secure

an interview of this stature,

we would break a phone every day.

Unlike many hurried celebrities, Tom was a gem taking time to pose for pictures and talk to every photographer that requested his attention.

The Circle was premiering at Tribeca this season. Since that time, the public has been privileged to experience this unique film.

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Rita Wilson is an actress, singer, and producer.

She is a star in her own rite. Tom first saw her when she appeared as a guest on the hit 70’s sitcom, “The Brady Bunch.” Many years later in 1985 the two became acquainted and were married a year later. They have two sons, Chet and Truman. They are now spoken of as Hollywood’s dream couple, celebrating their decades old marriage.

Tom and Rita have weathered the storm of breast cancer...and won. Rita was recently diagnosed cancer free. She has become a strong advocate of early detection. Rita reiterated that it was Tom who got her through the battle.

Mostly by making her laugh, and by “being her rock.” So many times we assume celebrities are immune to the every day struggles we all experience. From personal recollection, I can tell you... it really gets your attention when a doctor says, “Its cancer!” You fall into a dark abyss, where reality and disparity shakes you to the core. It is definitely all about your wife, as it should be, however seldom does anyone think of the husband. He who feels absolutely impotent to do, or help, or fix the situation. I remember one day, pulling to the side of the road and weeping uncontrollably.

Then I decided whatever it took is what we would make happen.

So Tom and Rita, we applaud you, and we feel your pain, and we share in your victory, personally.

We all were given a pre-taste of Tom’s now released book, “Uncommon Type.” This is his first venture into the writing universe. He found scribbling a collection of fictional stories on to the printed page a daunting task. Fortunate for his fans, he was successful.

Photo Credit Joan Bateman

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The Magical, Mystical, Miraculous, Minimum Wage asked, not the least of which is, quite simply, "Where did the figure of $15 come from in the first place?" While it's not entirely clear where this movement first started, one of the higher profile places early on to establish the benchmark $15 wage was Seattle, Washington. A number of other US cities, and even States have adopted plans to phase in $15 as the bottom rung on the hourly wage ladder. But why $15? Other than being a relatively round number, what is the basis for this particular dollar figure? The question is pretty valid to ask, especially here in Canada, when one takes into consideration a few factors.

Brent Dunstan Columnist

Let's face facts, it's pretty much impossible to work at a job paying current minimum wages and make a living in cities like Toronto, Vancouver or Calgary. And in light of this not so earth shattering revelation, provincial governments, whose responsibility it is to establish wage minimums, are fast-tracking increasing the lowest wage one can make to $15 per hour. But this push on the part of "progressive" governments raises as many questions as it provides answers.

Prior to asking but a few of these questions, it might be wise to briefly outline the rationale proponents of raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour minimum wage have. One of the key elements of their argument is that existing minimum wages are outdated and due for an increase. Further, and this is the justification that is being touted with great vigour by advocates of the $15 minimum wage, they believe that the increased wages earned will result in increased consumer spending, stimulating the economy. Put more simply, if people have more money, they'll spend more money. And, of course, there is a philosophical element to their justification of the wage hike; the well-being and dignity of the worker. At first glance, all appear to be somewhat reasonable motivations to champion the cause.

However, there are significant questions to be

First of all, there is a currency value difference between the American and Canadian dollar.

At the time of writing, $15 US is actually $18.86 CDN. If there is something especially significant about the $15 US figure, then why are Canadian governments advocating a minimum wage at par? While prices of consumer goods are typically higher in Canada, reflective of the exchange rate, the proposed minimum wage of $15 suddenly appears to be quite a bit more of an arbitrary number when viewed in this light.

that, in their fervour and zeal, anyone expressing opposition or concern is being dismissed by proponents as greedy corporate fat cats, or worse. And while it is true that there has been disapproval expressed by individuals representing large companies (Galen Weston comes to mind), evidence is piling up at an alarming rate that it is small business (who employ over 70% of Canadians in the private sector), that will be most adversely affected. Sadly, the end result will be the same for employees, whether they be employed by a Superstore or a Mom & Pop Shop. Positions and hours will decrease, whether through cuts or closures, ultimately harming the very people the initiative was intended to help. This conclusion is upheld by a recent study of the poster child of the great $15 experiment. The University of Washington recently published findings that in Seattle, the increase in the minimum wage has negatively impacted low-wage workers in the city by a ratio of 3:1 vs those it has helped, and overall, the average low-wage worker has lost $125 per month because of the hike in the minimum.

Before you dismiss this as unfounded

Secondly, $15 an hour means something far different in Toronto, Ontario, than it does in Tilley, Alberta. An older 3 bedroom home in suburban Toronto will be priced at $750,000+.

That house in Tilley can be had at the asking price of $109,500. Gasoline sells in the 6ix for between 15 to 20 percent higher than in the GTA (Greater Tilley Area). Yet their respective provincial governments are instituting a $15 minimum wage in both communities.

Obviously that wage will go a lot farther in small town Alberta, than metropolitan Ontario.

Third, the universal application of a $15 an hour minimum wage across all occupations, industries, and services is blind to the unique characteristics and idiosyncrasies each possesses. For example, in occupations where tipping is customary, such as food and beverage service, there have historically been separate guidelines for wage structures to take this into account. Most of the current efforts to raise the wage to $15 eliminates this consideration.

In spite of this, there are those who enthusiastically support the push to $15, with the firm belief that it is in everyone's best interests. What is particularly unsettling is

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THE CARLYLE, A ROSEWOOD HOTEL ANNOUNCES WINTER/ SPRING 2017 SUNDAY NIGHT RESIDENCIES AT BEMELMANS BAR Follow The Carlyle Hotel on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Bemelmans Bar A favorite neighborhood bar of Upper East Siders and visitors alike. Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle is a special hideaway where artist and author Ludwig Bemelmans’ whimsical drawings come to life. Best remembered for his beloved Madeline series of classic children’s books, Bemelmans was commissioned in 1947 to paint the large-scale murals to depict all four seasons in famed Central Park. Featuring the only surviving Bemelmans’ commission open to the public, the bar combines wit and coziness in unique New York style.

BLAKE ZIDELL & ASSOCIATES The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel, is pleased to welcome back Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch to Bemelmans Bar for Sunday night residencies throughout the winter/spring 2017 season.

Featuring top artists from the worlds of jazz, cabaret and Broadway alongside special unannounced guests. Sunday nights at Bemelmans Bar have become a favorite spot for a wide range of performing musicians across the city. Additionally, the classic watering hole has drawn crowds consisting of socialites, politicians, movie stars, and moguls for more than five decades.

and Stritch—who are best friends—gained national exposure together as the host and musical director of the wildly popular, recurring open mic event Cast Party. Stephen Holden, in The New York Times, called a Cast Party event in the Lincoln Center American Songbook series “a welcoming oasis of traditional show business bonhomie”—a description that perfectly captures the spirit of the duo’s Bemelmans residency. The pair will be at Bemelmans on March 5, March 12, March 19, April 2, April 9, April 16, April 23 and April 30.

Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch’s upcoming performances will build upon their recent run of shows in the intimate, storied New York City lounge. Favorites not only of music fans and critics, but also of fellow artists. The duo recently added dozens of songs made famous

by Frank Sinatra to their repertoire. Thanks to their current national tour of The Sinatra Century. Their shows provide a place where some of the city’s foremost entertainers go to commune with their own—and sometimes sit-in for a song or two—on their nights off.

To be sure, Caruso and Stritch are exceptional musicians in their own right. In a recent New York Observer review, Rex Reed described their Bemelmans show as “a nimble, nonstop, musical show-business bonanza. With as much rhythm and class as the feet of Fred Astaire.”

Bemelmans Bar is located in The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (35 East 76th Street @ Madison Avenue.) Bar seating is $15 per person, and table seating is $25 per person.

Reservations not accepted; tables available on a first-come, first-serve basis. For additional information, visit www.thecarlyle.com.

But part of the fun is experiencing Caruso and Stritch’s impromptu collaborations with the showbiz heavy-hitters who turn up; recent guest appearances at Bemelmans have included Liza Minnelli, Michael Feinstein, Bono, Marilyn Maye, Tony Danza, Jane Monheit and Linda Lavin. In addition to performing extensively on their own, Caruso

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Restored in 2002 by designer Thierry Despont, the bar maintains its Art Deco legacy with chocolate-brown leather banquettes, nickel-trimmed black glass tabletops, a dramatic black granite bar and a 24-karat gold leaf-covered ceiling. Open year round with live music every evening, regular performers include favorites such as Chris Gillespie, Earl Rose, Loston Harris, David Budway, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch.

Named in honor of the legendary artist, Bemelmans is a classic New York watering hole that has drawn socialites, politicians, movie stars and moguls for more than five decades.

For more information, please contact Blake Zidell, Ron Gaskill or Matt Gross at Blake Zidell & Associates, 718.643.9052, blake@ blakezidell.com, ron@blakezidell.com or matt@blakezidell.com.

NEED A MORTGAGE? If you own a home and were turned down by the Banks, If you have bad credit ? Lost hope?

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403 504 7092 If nobody else can get you a mortgage, Call me.

Spotlight photographer Joan Bateman was pleased to shoot house for the fabulous Laurel DeWitt for her New York show. Her Spring / Summer ‘2018 “Dancing Queen” collection was spectacular!!! New York ...LA...China, her brand is worldwide. No other designer compares. Her clients agree and are an "A list" group to numerous to mention. Her use of metal as clothing is creative and appealing on levels untouched by high fashion! Not only was the show a heart stopper but the designer's boyfriend took a knee and proposed in the most romantic public way. A booming line of clothing and accessories... A successful show and true love. What is next for this talented woman? SpotLight is excited to see... www.laureldewitt.com Photo credit Joan Bateman

S

he believes that her work should be on all beautiful women and her brand is about women being goddesses and them feeling powerful and sexy.

All Photos: Joan Bateman

Photo credit Joan Bateman

Silver & Gold is

always in style, and no one does it better than Laurel DeWitt.

A great collection NEEDS fabulous shoes.

Shoe designer Ruthie Davis added that finishing touch! www.ruthiedavis.com

Laurel DeWitt’s Iconic handbag is recreated here

by NYC cake masters: www.bcakeny.com

Photo credit Joan Bateman

Photo credit Joan Bateman

War

Scott Cowan Editorial

403-528-2191

We are at war and conservatives are losing.

It's because we as a movement are oblivious to the fact we are under attack! The rightwing in Canada and the USA are all but ignoring the combat in which we are engaged. For over 70 years the left has incrementally and strategically undermined the values and principles which we hold dear, and largely thought unassailable.

It started with the “women's movement.”

They pivoted to eliminating prayer in schools while simultaneously infiltrating institutions of higher learning. They chipped away at the foundations of liberty at every turn. They increased taxes until we are working just to survive. They told women that they should be working too. So now the divorce rate is 50% and 65% of kids come home to an empty house after school. The home has been eviscerated. Teenage pregnancy and crime is epidemic. You've come a long way baby!

The war on poverty has spent trillions of dollars and successfully enslaved almost a third of the USA population. They created a dependency on government handouts equivalent to the mess created by the native American Reserve model.

Unions grab 30% of the workforce and demand higher than scale wages, causing the cost of production to sky rocket. Union leftists in government implement ever increasing regulations that cripple business. Employee deductions that businesses pay, increase the real wages of workers by 50%. So your $20.00 hour job costs your employer $30.00. Ever

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wonder why raises are so hard to get from an employer?

pany make a million dollar pay check, and the worker only a few thousand dollars?

But is that not “just the way things are...isn't it true?”

This is the problem of only viewing the company from the perspective of socialist “Ass Backward Economics.” When you look at Microsoft or the family farm, you see thousands of employees. You see millions in sales and multi-million dollar profits. On the farms across our lands you see huge combines and tractors. Miles of golden wheat swaying in the August breeze. No one ever looks back at the beginning of the business.

Bill Gates dropped out of college, and was working literally in a garage, building his company. He scrambled for investors to give him $500.00 to give his dream a chance.

Those who gave him that small amount back then are multi-millionaires today. It is all about risking everything on a dream.

No! These are plans that were laid out back in the 1930's by communist infiltrators. It worked in Germany and it gave us World War Two. In the 50's after the war, America was swelling with patriotism. Jobs were plentiful so the ideas of communism were rejected.

Schools warned students of socialism's inherent soulless empty ideology.

Not so today. Our universities instead of developing men and women of character and optimism, teach that America is a racist society. Literally built on the backs of individuals less fortunate, and of countries exploited for their resources. Capitalism is the culprit, and the free market is an outdated concept. Rich people and companies do not deserve what they have created. They did not build it on their own. It was the worker who equally created the success, and got a small wage for the effort. That is why the “rich,” those despised 1%, are not paying their fair share. Why should a CEO or owner of a com-

A farmer struggling to finance his first acreage, and using broken down equipment, gets a crop in the ground. He gets up at dawn and works till dusk...for decades. Then, people sneer at the “rich farmer or rancher.”One year it is too wet, the next to dry.” Then he gets a bumper crop and the prices are low. When

If you would like a complementary subscription delivered toyour email every month email us at spotlight magazine@sh aw.c a

Midlife and Loss Registered Clinical Psychologist once robust parent can be equally as distressing and overwhelming as when a loved one dies.

Loss is central to the human condition. Our lives begin with loss, separated from the protection of our mother’s body and thrust into an uncertain world. This initiates a journey of ongoing loss, which ends only in our own death. Along the way there are repeated losses--security, connectedness, innocence, bodily competencies, energies, people and relationships. One of the realities of getting older is that we will increasingly suffer various kinds of loss. The poet Rilke said, “We live forever saying farewell”.

Dr. Wendy Froberg Psy. D.,R.Psych.

Clinical Psychologist Columnist frobergw@shaw.ca

Janice’s husband of almost thirty years just announced that he wants a divorce. She alternates crying over their wedding photos and angrily stuffing his clothing into garbage bags. Geraldine recently had to place her mother, who is suffering from an advancing case of Alzheimer’s disease but who remains physically healthy, into an extended care facility. She knows the home is a good one but cries daily out of her sense of guilt. Paula’s youngest child finished university last spring and moved out of her home a few weeks ago.

She wanders into his room several times a day to touch his childhood toys and lay on his bed. Danielle’s only sister suffered a sudden and massive heart attack last month while only in her fifties. As the older sister and the one who used to smoke, Danielle wonders why it wasn’t she who died.

What do these four women have in common?

They are all women in mid-life. And they are all suffering from experiences of loss. Their behavior is entirely consistent with the grief that accompanies losing someone or something important. Their feelings are normal. But because we often think of grief only in the context of death, we may overlook the fact that the losses that come with divorce, an empty-nest or the demise of a

We are socialized to view loss as always negative. After all, it hurts terribly to lose something to which we were deeply attached. But perhaps there is another way to think of loss: the pain that accompanies it tells us that something of value has been taken from us. Our suffering confirms that the experience or relationship mattered to us.

Grief is a testimony to depth of meaning and connection.

Nothing that has been internalized is ever truly gone. We honor best those people and experiences we have lost by making their contribution to our lives conscious, deliberately incorporating those values into our ongoing life experience and grieving them with awareness. In this way, we convert inescapable loss into new and meaningful ways of living. This is not an act of denial but one of transformation.

Buddhists say that life is an experience of continual suffering, caused primarily by the ego’s desire to control--the environment, other people, even mortality. According to this philosophy, suffering is inevitable for human beings as long as we believe that things last, that they don’t disintegrate, that they can be counted on to satisfy our hunger for security. Samsara is a hopeless cycle that causes great suffering; we think we can find lasting pleasure and avoid pain and go round and round trying unsuccessfully to make this happen. But instead, if we accept the wisdom of the intransience we see in nature, we can be free of needless suffering.

After a great loss, when we are hanging on for dear life, we struggle to understand how we will ever be able to experience safety and cohesion again. We will probably be a big mess for a while. But at some point, we are faced with a choice--to stay where we are, lost

in our grief, or get back on our feet and live again. Loss is an invitation to open up or shut down. The most precious opportunities occur when we come to the place where we do not believe we can handle what is happening, when we cannot manipulate the situation to come out looking or feeling good. At such moments, we often try to escape. We want to run away as fast as we can. We do not see these experiences as teachings. We hate them and want to erase them. This is what addiction stems from, as well as the rampant materialism that plagues our industrialized world today. But no amount of denial can spare us grief.

Loss allows us to make space in our life for something new. It is like a resetting of the counter, a return to zero, the place of emptiness and possibility. Disappointment, embarrassment, loneliness, rage, powerlessness--all those places where we simply cannot feel good--are a sort of death.

In them, we have lost our ground completely; we are up in the air, totally destabilized. Rather than realizing it takes death for there to be birth and seeing the opportunities for transformation, we too often fight against the fear of death.

We also fear being hurt again by another loss.

Like children, we want protection from the worrisome uncertainty of the world. We project this desire onto an indifferent universe and, when we aren’t rewarded for our good behavior, we feel betrayed. In response, we often decide to seal up our heart; remember the old Burt Bacharach song, “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again”? But no person makes it to adulthood without being wounded. We are inevitably betrayed in some way by those we trust. Yet we must believe.

We must trust again. Refusing to love for fear of betrayal may allow us to escape the pain of loss, but what will be the sacrifice?

One of the deepest pains of grief is impotency--the reminder of how little we are actually in control in life. Relinquishing control does not make one a slave to loss but rather a participant in the act of letting go.

Our nature longs for attachment, but only letting go can bring peace and security. We must stop holding onto the fantasy of control in order to truly grieve, to truly celebrate value. The only thing we have power over is our attitude: the willingness to find in even the bitterest of losses what remains to be lived.

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The Magical, Mystical, Miraculous, Minimum Wage alarmism, bear in mind that the escalation of the minimum wage isn't happening in a vacuum, or independent of other challenges.

In Ontario, the Wynne Government is asking employers of lower wage earners to absorb a 32% increase in their labour costs within only 2 years, immediately on the heels of having the cost of electricity more than double over the past 10 years. In Alberta, the Notley Government is pursuing this course in the midst of one of the worst economic downturns in the province's history, when businesses are already struggling to keep going. At the Federal Level, the Trudeau Government is targeting individuals and single proprietorships that have incorporated, so that they will pay more taxes, a move the President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce called "the most radical tax changes in 50 years." In addition to each of these circumstances, imposing significantly higher wage costs on an already vulnerable business community, is a bit like punching holes in an already leaking boat.

to question the wisdom of both the extent and rapidity of the minimum wage increase to $15. Arbitrary intervention such as this fails to allow market forces to naturally set the economic environment that determine wages.

To elaborate - if an employee finds that he or she is not making a suitable income in a particular job, in a particular community, he or she is free to resign and seeks employment that will provide for his or her needs in that particular place, or move elsewhere. If an employer cannot attract or retain employees due to an insufficient wage, he or she is compelled to raise the wage offered.

However, additional market forces, such as expenses other than labour, revenues, etc., establish wage limits as well. This approach takes into account the significant differences that exist between various industries, the regions where businesses exist, and the communities where employees and employers live and work.

In many cases it's the small business owners in the small towns that can least afford the proposed wage hike. Ask anyone living in rural Ontario or Alberta about the business prospects in the nearest small town, and they will paint a pretty grim picture. A mandatory $15/hr wage means either reduced staffing, (if these small businesses even have the ability to have staff outside of the owners themselves) or they close their doors. This forces residents to travel farther, and spend more, just to pick up everyday items. All an increase in the minimum wage to $15 will do is reduce employment opportunities in small communities, where it could possibly be a living wage.

The prospects aren't much better in larger centres. On the employer's side of the ledger, after absorbing grossly higher energy costs, skyrocketing rents due to out of control real estate value increases, and other increases in overhead, they now face wage increases

But really, the problem isn't the lowest wage earners for a large number of businesses in a world where $15 will be the minimum wage; it's everyone else who works there. If the inexperienced, unskilled, untrained employee is earning $15/hour, what will businesses have to pay employees with formal education or training, staff with seniority and/or experience, as well as management? Believe me, this is the thought that's keeping many a business owner awake at night.

At this point it's important to note that this is not a complaint about people making more money. As a rule, it's good when people make more money. This is about ideologically motivated government intervention in the economy in a manner, at a time, at a pace, and to an extent that will do more harm than good, due in large part to the arbitrary nature of the dollar figure of $15 itself. If you don't agree, here's a question I have, that may surprise you. "What if $15 an hour isn't enough?" In some places and occupations, it likely won't be. However, in many places it might be too much. An hourly wage of $15 might not cut it in Calgary, Alberta, but $12 an hour might be very nice in Calabogie, Ontario. This in itself is a demonstration of the inequity of hiking the minimum wage by fiat.

The tremendous disparity that exists between communities and regions of Canada, and within Provinces themselves is reason enough

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War the guy is old before his time from decades of labor, the Liberal government wants to tax him overwhelmingly disproportionate to fairness when he sells the land to retire.

Regulations will not allow him to pass the land to his son, who would continue the family farm. He has no pension or retirement plan, aside from the fruits of his toil... being the land value that has increased. It isn't just or fair to rob him of that profit.

But to liberals, the very thought of profit is filthy. Unless they are getting said profits. This is the blatant reality. They no longer try to hide the duplicitous nature of their hypocrisy. If you are say George Soros, a billionaire liberal, then supplying money to home grown terrorist organizations such as Black Lives Matter is applauded. If you are a phony black preacher such as Al Sharpton, you can owe millions in back taxes and nothing is done. If your last name is Clinton, no crime is investigated. James Comey, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and the list goes on endlessly. The left is immune too criticism.

Finally it appears that even the capacity of some liberal double standards has been reached. In the case of a certain movie mogul.

Even the left will offer up one of their own every so often, to distract from say the real Russia collusion story, involving Clinton and uranium sales to Russia.

In 1945, 18 and 20 year old men were storming the beaches in Normandy. They charged Nazi machine guns. Now when kids go to college they revert to needing daycare, constant supervision, and protection.

Collegiate s need safe rooms where words and ideas will not offend or frighten them. If they see a poster, or hear any micro aggression such as “Make America Great Again,” they are traumatized. If the correct gender pronoun is not used they are enraged.

They accuse people like me of benefiting from, “White Privilege.”

I maintain that to accuse one of white privilege, is in fact the newest trendy form of racism.

I did not choose to be white, or male. I should not be held accountable nor judged for my DNA. Nor should I be guilty or condemned for saying, I am proud to be white. The statement does not imply white supremacy. I have never attended a KKK meeting or condemned another person simply for their skin tone. Do not judge me by the color of my skin, but by the content of my character.

The left will level any hateful comment to

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silence my right of free speech. Liberals today are asking “whites,” to go to the back of rooms, and let people of color come forward.

Whites are flat out told not to apply for certain jobs. Today's cure for historical injustice seems to be the total subjugation of the Caucasian race. A reverse discrimination that is only satisfied by the enslavement of whites as payment for past sins. Further Catholics and Christian parents according to the Alberta government are considered dangerous, and unfit to adopt children. This due to radical views of marriage being defined as between a man and a woman. How long before they decide children in Christian homes should be removed from their biased and homo-phobic parents? To disagree with a liberal is too be labeled extreme, Nazi, bigoted, hateful, and basically criminal.

Conservatives must recognize the war being waged against them, and fast. Remember

99.9% involved is just another way of saying 666.

So, what will actually raise people from such societal disinformation? Try implementing the rule of law over home grown terrorist organizations. Arrest media who report “fake news.” Jail criminals regardless of that person's last name. Arrest lots of politicians.

Dial back decency laws about 30 years. Roll back business red tape and encourage the unimpeded return of the free enterprise system. Lower taxes and less government control. It means telling people profit is not a dirty word. Return to personal accountability and responsibility. It will be advocating the simplicity of work, and smart investment. We still have geniuses out there waiting to succeed. Even at the $500.00 level... It's anybodies guess where the next tech revolution is brewing... and from who's unknown garage.

Manfrotto There is a new bag that is not too big and not to small..Trust me it's just right! Manfrotto has done it again with their newest choices for the consumer market, not just photographers.

Here at Spotlight Magazine we are inundated with editorial requests and promo items. However, I was excited to receive a Manfrotto product. We have been customers of this company for years. We can highly recommend them without concern. My wife has used there superior tripods for over a decade. She has nothing but praise for their performance. Sidebar... when a tripod was over five years old and had a bent leg, the company replaced it with no hesitation.

If you walk into any camera store or attend a convention such as WPPI, there are literally hundreds of bag choices. I recommend you forget looking anywhere else but Manfrotto.

We were sent our bag just before leaving for a shoot in New York. I am the designated pack mule for my wife on such excursions. She shoots all over the USA and Canada. I can tell you from experience this bag was fantastic.

On some of the long subway rides her lap top was secure yet easily accessible to down load some camera cards while we traveled. Her computer, back-up camera, lenses, spare batteries, and chargers rested happily in the Manfrotto, calling this bag home.

For business people

their tablet would comfortably fit and be available as well. This is truly a multi purpose piece of equipment crossing professional boundaries.

Joan later covered the famous Summer Fest Concert in Milwaukee. She absolutely loved the convenience her Manfrotto afforded while criss crossing such a massive venue. As a pro photographer, a bag that allows lots of gear and a comfortable carry, is essential if you're working alone. When your pack is designed properly, lots of weight is hardly noticeable as you navigate through crowds of concert goers, and mosh pits.

This bag is great for any business person who needs to access a “mini office,” at a Starbucks or any luncheon meeting. Like clowns coming out of the tiny car, your Manfrotto hides unbelievable content!

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The Green Side Bunker Shot

Donald Crawley Golf Columnist TOP 100 Teacher Director of Instruction Boulders Golf Academy 480 488 9028 Donald.crawley@theboulders.com www.theboulders.com www.golfsimplified.com

GolfSimplified getting into the Scoring Zone To be a good golfer you need a short game, a really good one. Look through the history of golf’s greats and they all had a deft touch on and around the green.

You may never (most likely) be able to overpower a golf course with booming drives like Hogan, Nicklaus, Woods, now Bubba, Jason, and Rory. I just love that these modern icons are known by first name. Did Michael Jordan start that? Maybe some Canadian hockey player? Apologies, I digress. Anyway, the top players have great short games.

Although Bubba Watson hits the ball prodigious distances he is a great putter.

Some time last year he had the longest spell of not three putting. Jordan Spieth number one in the world is a brilliant pressure putter, sometimes looking at the hole not the ball.

Amazing!

The start of developing a good short game begins with the visualization of the shot. We call that imagery. Seeing the picture of the shot in your mind and playing a little video in your head ahead of execution is crucial.

Visualize the height, trajectory, landing spot and roll of the ball, before you even think of club selection.

Imagine you are twenty yards off the green, and the pin is cut in the middle of a relatively flat green, with no obvious obstacles in the way. Do you ‘see’ a low shot landing on the fringe of the green releasing and rolling on

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a low trajectory, up the green and into the hole? You should. Where should the ball land?

Be specific, “that brown spot on the fringe”.

What club would give you the trajectory and roll you envision? Maybe it’s a 9 iron? No it may roll too far, better to select a bit more loft, pitching wedge?

After you ‘see’ this shot and select your club, it is time to ‘feel’ the shot. Watch the pro’s they do exactly as I’m describing. Looking at the landing spot, with selected club in hand, make practice swings that resemble the length and pace of the swing need to drop the ball exactly on your spot. SEE the shot first, FEEL the swing.

Note; don’t take forever doing this slowing pace of play down. You should be doing these calculations, see and feel, out of sight when your playing partner is hitting their shot. Then it is your turn, and you a ready. You’ve seen, selected, felt the shot and swing, ready to stand up and execute.

Now apply this same routine and procedure for putting. While it is someone else’s turn; farthest from the hole plays first, do your ‘green reading’ on each and every putt. See the slope. Where is downhill? How far away are you? How fast is the green? Hopefully you pent a few minutes prior to your round to feel out the speed of the greens. Green reading means: visualizing ahead of time of the length, direction and pace of the putt.

You are guesstimating what you see and think the ball will do. In practice roll a ball ahead of time to watch what the ball does as it ap-

proaches the hole and where it finishes. After you ‘see’ the putt, ‘feel’ the length and pace of your stroke to give you the desired result.

Again see and feel. Watch the pros; they do it. I think it helps to be looking at the hole, not the ground, when you take your practice swings. Your eyes are seeing the distance.

Your brain is gauging the amount of oomph in your stroke. Brain sends messages to the muscles. Pick up a ball, rolled up piece of paper, whatever, and toss it into the wastebasket. You will instinctively follow the routine and procedure I am spelling out.

There are many different putting grips, putters, stroke styles etc. But all good putters see and feel and have a marvelous touch of distance control. Work on that more than your technique. That means you have to practice, no short cuts here. Quick ‘Tiger’ story. When he was at his best, a friend of mine worked course maintenance at the club where Tiger lived and practiced. My friend goes by Tigers house at 6am. Tiger is on the putting green outside his house, working on his stoke and putting Worker goes and mows nine greens returns by Tigers house 11 am. “ Mr. Woods, what did you have for breakfast today?” They both shared similar diets. Tiger doesn’t look up, but replies, “I let you know, just finishing up here”. Maybe that’s why he made so many clutch putts to win 14 majors.

I think somewhere as you read this Jordan, Jason, Rory, Rickie are rolling putts, or chipping and putting, seeing and feeling the shot in hand.

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Talking to the Police

Scott Stenbeck 1(866)783 6232 Law Columnist

I want to say that I respect the police and the work that they do. I don’t want anyone construing this article in any way to justify being difficult or ignorant with a police officer. However, I felt it was time to write on this subject, I find that most of the time when someone needs me to assist them with a criminal charge - they have already put themselves in a disadvantageous position by talking to the police.

I will now share for free, what I write on the back of my business card. When someone calls me and is concerned that they have received a call from the police wanting to “talk” to them about “something.” Or they ask you to come down to the station to “clear a couple things up”. My card says, “My lawyer tells me that it’s not in my best interests to talk to you.”

There is literally no good that can come from talking to the police, if you are suspected of a crime. Whatever you say can be taken down and used later. When I say “don’t talk to the police”, that is often interpreted as “don’t give a statement”. No, what it means is, “don’t talk to the police.” Because even verbal exchanges that are not reduced to a statement, and signed, are still taken down by an officer in his or her notes. Identify yourself, accept whatever process they are going to serve you with, and leave it at that.

Now, even when someone talks to me first, and is later questioned or arrested, even after me giving the above advice, why do most people still talk to the police? Well, I believe it is because most of us in the end are actually moral people. That is what is used to get

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someone to talk. Most of us want people to understand why we did what we did, and that we had a justification for acting the way we did. Say, for example, I decide that I am going to steal from my boss. (This probably won’t get me ahead much since I’m self-employed!).

Then, say eventually my boss gets suspicious and calls the police. They interview me.

Being a basically moral person, I don’t want someone to think that I am someone that just goes and steals for no reason. I want to justify myself and my behaviour. So I tell the police officer “My boss makes me work weekends a lot of times. He makes me come in really early sometimes. On days where there is a lot of work, I have to stay late and he doesn’t pay me overtime! He says that we want to give the best service so he makes me carry a cell phone. I take calls from clients in the evenings, on holidays, and during personal time!

(All true, I do make myself do all those things) So of course I took some money! I figure it evens out for all the extra time I give him that he doesn’t pay me for!”

So, even though I feel better for justifying why I behaved this way. A natural human tendency, I have now done the police officer’s job for him. He doesn’t care what a jerk my boss is, he only cares that I admitted to what they are investigating. Now he hardly needs any evidence at all, I have given a voluntary confession, case closed. This natural human tendency to want others to think well of us, and to explain ourselves, can also be pushed along by a good police officer. They say things like “Look, I know you’re basically a good guy, and you wouldn’t have done it without a good reason.” Or “hey, I know you have never been in trouble before, I know you must have been having a real tough time, why don’t you tell me about it?”

Another reason that people talk to the police is that they think that somehow it will result in a more lenient punishment. A police officer is not allowed to threaten a greater punishment or promise a reward for a confession, but they don’t have to in most cases.

Most of us are intimidated by the surroundings in the situation, and we are uncomfortable. We think that things will go better if we just confess. Sometimes officers do urge this misconception along by saying something like, “We already know what happened, you might as well just tell us.” Again, even if they already know everything, the case against an accused is just made that much more airtight with a confession. I do hear from time to time in the courtroom on a guilty plea something like “my client was fully co-operative with the police and confessed immediately”, but I don’t know that such a situation is what helps

mitigate the seriousness of the matter as opposed to just the early guilty plea. The Crown prosecutor is certainly not allowed to do the reverse as say “the accused would not confess to the police, so he deserves a more serious punishment”. So again, I don’t really think the confession buys much, if anything, in terms of an easier punishment, and I have had plenty of clients that have been sentence to jail even after confessing.

So, here is the irony in all the above. The explanation to the person reading this who just said “Hey, aren’t you giving criminals the information they need to avoid punishment?” A serious and career criminal already knows what I set out above. Further, a serious criminal sociopath (someone who doesn’t care about the difference between right and wrong) isn’t concerned with what others think and doesn’t feel as much pressure when under investigation. So they are unlikely to confess to justify what they have done to an officer. They don’t care what that officer or anyone else thinks about what they have done. Most of my criminal practices are clients that have never been in trouble with the law. They have just made a mistake, or were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Most are immediately intimidated and afraid when contacted by police. Often clients end up giving full confessions. Most criminal cases are disposed of by way of some kind of plea bargain or joint submission or agreement reached between the defense and the Crown prosecutor. The ins and outs of the deal making, depends in part on the likelihood of the Crown getting a conviction. When a full and voluntary confession has been given, the Crown is in a very strong position. I don’t have as much to negotiate with, so I have more difficulty getting a sentence reduced with a plea bargain. On the other hand, the person who doesn’t talk to the police, everything else being equal, has a greater chance of being acquitted. So the Crown has a greater risk of losing that I can use to bargain with and get a better deal. So, ironically, the good person that makes one mistake, gets charged and immediately spills the beans actually fares worse than the sociopath that just keeps his mouth shut. The sociopath has a greater chance of being acquitted, and it is thus more likely that he will get a favourable deal.

This doesn’t mean that there isn’t a chance for a person accused to explain why they did what they did, or to own up to their mistake if they so choose. If that is what they want to do. It just means that they should wait and let me do it on their behalf later, when the discussions I have with the Crown prosecutor can’t be used against them.

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The Magical, Mystical, Miraculous, Minimum Wage by as much as 1/3, in as little as 2 years. It's obvious something has to give. Employees will be facing some exceedingly obvious negative consequences. Youth and student employment will be virtually a thing of the past, as employers will seek workers with education and experience for their $15, and will likely find them available. Automation will be accelerated in many industries; retail sales, fast food, and grocery stores, all historically typical sources of entry level jobs. Groceries won't put themselves on the shelves, but self-checkouts are proving that the role of cashier is vulnerable to further cutbacks. The local McDonalds already has more touch screens to place an order (4), than it has tills at the counter (2). Ask many workers in the food service industry, and they'll tell you they don't want an increased minimum wage, as $15/hr could (I say will) be a disincentive to tip. Many wait staff make far more than $15/hr, and fear their income will actually go down by getting an increase in wages.

Truth be told, these are but two examples of instances where there will be fewer people present to collect their $15/hr wage. Any businesses that don't either eliminate or reduce staff have only two other choices to maintain profitability; cut corners (i.e. reduce quality, service, or portions), or raise prices.

Neither is a positive for those workers this initiative is supposed to help the most; their new-found "wealth" buys them either lesser quality or quantity, and goes no further than it did before, due to proportionally higher prices. So much for all the extra disposable income that will stimulate the economy.

An interesting example of how the increased wage is impacting prices can be found in our test case of Seattle. An iconic local Mexican restaurant is now automatically adding a 20% charge to each bill, as per their menu notification, to "provide all our team with a living wage" and "comply with federal, state, and local law". 58% of that money is paid to the server as "commission". The remainder is retained by the restaurant to apply to wages, benefits and discretionary bonuses, as well as taxes. So, your $15 Vintage Elvis Burrito will actually cost $18. The "commission" element is particularly clever, as commissions paid to employees can be applied against their wages in a particular earning period, and are not by default paid over and above wages earned. This means the customer pays more, but the employee doesn't necessarily make more. This is why servers in the food and beverage industry aren't overjoyed at

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the prospect of either the increased base wage, or mandatory "tipping" applied by the restaurant.

The self-evident point is this – there is nothing magical about $15 an hour. It is not the miraculous cure-all proponents seem to believe it to be, solving every economic problem, delivering the masses from poverty to prosperity. It will inevitably be both insufficient and excessive, depending on the context, and precludes the natural establishment of market specific wages through specific market forces. It adds another challenge to an already daunting set of challenges

employers face, particularly in the small business sector. It further dissuades new businesses from starting in an increasingly adverse economic climate, one where government is creating the adversity, as opposed to working toward reducing obstacles for businesses that would create jobs. Ultimately, it will be the very people the admittedly well-meaning “progressives” mean to help, who will suffer the consequences of a “too far, too fast” rush to a $15 minimum wage. Why this isn't readily apparent is mystifying.

Brent

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“Laurel DeWitt Spring/Summer 2018” 26