Melanoma blood test could detect skin cancer before it's visible to naked eyeEU Investigations in Apple e-Book Antitrust Case Closed After Complain is WithdrawnElections BC is drawing scrutiny which threatens to undermine taxpayer’s faith in our elections. That’s a problem. Here’s the solution: call a public inquiry into Elections BC, not a politicised process through legislative committees working behind closed doors. There is nothing to suggest the B.C. provincial election was stolen. There is nothing to suggest Elections BC was in cahoots with one party or another. But that doesn’t mean we can afford to turn a blind eye to its mishandling of the most important day in our democratic cycle. In a democracy, taxpayers must have faith in elections and repeated errors from Elections BC erodes that trust. And make no mistake, Elections BC did mess up its handling of the provincial election. The problems with Elections BC range from bad to worse. It took Elections BC more than a week to finish the preliminary tally of votes. Voting closed Oct. 19, but the final count didn’t occur until Oct. 28. British Columbians shouldn’t be left in limbo because Elections BC workers didn’t stay late to count votes. And it shouldn’t take an extra week for the final count to begin. Then came the revelation that Elections BC officials were storing ballots in their personal homes. Think about that for a moment. When you cast your ballot, did you imagine it would find its way into the basement of someone’s home? British Columbians generally believe Elections BC acts in good faith. But why allow questionable chains of custody for the most important pieces of paper in a democracy? Why risk storing ballots in home basements instead of secure government buildings? In three-quarters of B.C.’s 93 ridings, mistakes by Elections B.C. led to unreported votes. That’s unacceptable. To be fair, all the votes were eventually accounted for and counted. But our elections are too important to risk with these kinds of blunders. Both the ruling NDP and Opposition BC Conservatives agree there needs to be an investigation into Elections BC’s mistakes. The NDP wants an all-party committee made up of MLAs to probe Elections BC. But that’s not good enough. Legislative committees are political and are made up of politicians fighting for the spotlight. They can hide behind in camera meetings the public doesn’t have access to. For the public to have faith in our elections, the public needs to be involved in the inquiry. That’s what the BC Conservatives are calling for: an independent public review. British Columbians need to have faith in our elections, so the public must be a part of the investigation. This is far too important an issue for taxpayers to be shunted off to the side while politicians play partisan games. Carson Binda is the B.C. director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
2001: A Bitcoin Odyssey
US offers $10 mn reward for wanted Chinese hackerWhen Christ Church Santa Fe needed someone to lead its youth programs, Joni Brenneisen applied because she was convinced no one was better qualified for this high-energy, full-time role. It mattered little to Joni that she had zero seminary training. And with all due respect to Mark Twain’s mind over matter musings, let’s just say Joni didn’t fit the target audience demographic. The pastors at Christ Church gently said no. It might be the only time that Joni has been denied. Instead, they released Joni into the Santa Fe community. They gave her the title of faithful presence coordinator. The job description probably is one sentence and reads: GO BE JONI. There are many wonderful, go-getters in our community. But you’ll find few as positively pushy and relentlessly resourceful as Joni. More importantly, she teaches everyone to get involved personally with problems that may never go away. Backpacks in bright colors smothered the floor. Gallon-sized, plastic food bags formed a makeshift mound on a tiny table. In another corner were shoe boxes, neatly stacked on metal shelves. “Take a shoe box. Take two,” she says. I didn’t respond, instead pivoting to the question of why we were standing in a small, stuff-filled fire station no longer in use. “So, what do you need? Why are we here?” I recall saying. Joni wore a vintage Mickey Mouse cap. One of the backpacks filled with kid goodies had a smiling Minnie Mouse. But this wasn’t a Disney moment. My questions perplexed Joni in the way we all get when searching for the right words. The Santa Fe New Mexican wrote about Joni nearly two years ago in a story entitled “Faithful presence coordinator’s tireless cheer and work brighten days for some in Santa Fe.” Former reporter Michael Tashji’s opening paragraphs explains how a retired business owner who sold Hallmark cards became the caretaker of a nondescript, one-garage fire station: Then-Santa Fe Fire Department Chief Paul Babcock walked into Christ Church Santa Fe one day (in the summer of 2021), rattled a set of keys and told Joni Brenneisen she could have them. “He gave me Fire Station No. 6,” said Brenneisen, who organizes community aid programs from the decommissioned station — including food and clothes for the needy, sleeping bags for the homeless, running shoes to Native American children and backpacks full of school supplies to students. Such a smart move by city leaders. From this neighborhood bureau affectionately known as Joni's Fire Station No. 6, first responders and community connectors drop by to pick up food or other items for those who can’t get immediate help anywhere else. Clothes and shoes for women hang out in one room, suits for men in another, and backpacks and toys for children spread everywhere. And there are those shoe boxes. This column isn’t necessarily about Joni, although she makes a compelling storyline. So many good folks step up daily to help neighbors in need. Spend time with The New Mexican’s 10 Who Make a Difference section and be humbled by the extraordinary volunteerism in our communities. Or perhaps you witnessed the smiles on Saturday when La Fonda Foundation held a family resource summit for hospitality workers in need, offering food, immunizations, connections to assistance programs, and a visit from Santa Claus. Or notice how the Empty Stocking Fund grows daily with contributions meant to help individuals living within 50 miles of Santa Fe with rent payments, bills, and other vital needs. ( The New Mexican has been a longtime supporter of the Empty Stocking Fund and publishes a list of donors throughout December.) Joni asked again. Would I take a shoe box? That’s when I realized the problem wasn’t Joni being persistent. Writing a check? Yeah, that’s easy. Reaching out to someone needing help? That takes a personal commitment. I took a shoe box. Inside was a large jar of soup, a package of cooked rice and other personal items. On the short drive from Fire Station No. 6 to the office, my strategically spinning mind wondered what to do next. Within minutes of parking, I found someone who recognized the importance of the shoe box. There was no ceremony. No staff photographer or even a selfie to capture my sudden burst of humanity. Just a quick exchange and a slight nod. Maybe the lesson here is we all can GO BE JONI. Maybe Joni’s well-worn cap is a motif and message. How, by getting out of our comfort zone, we can make it a small world after all.Jacksonville St. 86, East Carolina 78