Protester, Agitator, Instigator & Provocateur — Key Differences
"Sometimes life's real fun is just sorting out who's making all the ruckus...and why. There are unique differences between a protester, an agitator, an instigator and a provocateur."
"Sometimes life's real fun is just sorting out who's making all the ruckus...and why. There are unique differences between a protester, an agitator, an instigator and a provocateur."
"According to researcher Aziz Yaqub, serendipity isn't just bumbling luck. He claims it comes in four tasty flavours, like gelato on Vancouver's Commercial Drive. Walpolian, Mertonian, Bushian and Stephanian."
"Think of a paradise built for mice: all the food, water and comfy climate any little rodent would want. No danger, no shortage, no work. Sounds pretty great, right? Back in the late 1960's, researcher, John Calhoun built just such a place he called Universe 25. It did not end well."
"Sometimes the smallest words can cause the biggest confusion - especially when it comes to "fewer" and "less."
'The quotation is: "A man with a briefcase steals more than a man with a gun." This line is most often attributed to Don Henley, the Eagles' co-founder, who used it in the 1980's to underline how white collar crime and unchecked corporate greed can quietly devastate communities far more than the splashy deeds of street criminals.'
"We'll do almost anything to make life a bit easier - even if it means straying a bit from what's 'officially' right? Maybe you're listening to this on your phone during a park walk, noticing the artfully dodged bike helment laws...a classic case of the 'Normalization of Deviance'."
'In the United States Postal system, "de minimis" aka "too busy to fuss over" is a rule that lets imported goods under a certain threshold (US$800) sail thru customs without extra duties or taxes owed. For a lot of Canadian businesss selling into the US, that's been quite a blessing.'
"A notable thread running through Pierre Poilievre's political career ties him to former Prime Minster Stephen Harper and interestingly, to Mark Carney as, painitng a picture that might influence Poilivre's future in ways many don't immediately see."
"If you blinked, you may have missed it. CBS is pulling the plug on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May of 2026. Could the Trump Whitehouse have anything to do with this or is it just another example of big business putting bean-counting ahead of creativity, fun and a good laugh at bedtime?"
"On Monday, August 18th 2025, the very large and very Conservative riding of Battle River-Crowfoot will hold a federal by-election, setting the stage for a political comeback for Pierre Poilievre, leader of the federal Conservative Party. During the last federal election, he lost his Carleton, Ontario riding seat of over 20 years, to a rookie Liberal candidate."
"Imagine a cross province road trip. A legion of volunteers is collecting signatures to put the question: 'Should Alberta remain in Canada' on the provinical agenda. The signature drive, set in motion by former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, aims to gather nearly 300,000 names before October 28 this year, which could force a referendum."
"Some folks find creative solutions to their life's little irritations, sometimes by orchestrating a small, brass-fuelled symphony of harmless payback."
"Welcome to the world's most expensive reality show, where billionaires audition for cabinet roles, like they're pitching Shark Tank. This is an episode I recorded back in April of 2025. I didn't have a chance to post it due to Steve Bannons style of 'flooding the zone with Bull-Sh*t'. Upon listening to it again, last week, I felt it was too good to pass up, even though some of what I covered is a little dated. In my very biased opinion I think it has aged rather well."
"This coming Sunday, August 3rd 2025 is the BC Day holiday weekend and once again our city bursts into a rainbow of celebration as the Vancouver Pride parade spills down the streets. It's a festival of love, inclusion, protest and let's be honest - a rollicking good time."
"Expo 86, the 20210 Winter Olympics and the upcoming FIFA World Cup next year in 2026, are mega events that have Vancouver on the global stage, with all the glitz, glamour and financial ups and downs."
The JAFO Report is my platform as a West Coast, Canadian Boomer with decades in the entertainment industry, where I share thoughtful and humorous insights on life, culture, social issues and politics. Join me in exploring everything from lighthearted tech musings to serious reflections on family dynamics, fostering conversations that resonate across generations — all in less than five minutes.
New episodes are uploaded Tuesday and Thursday mornings around 4:00am PT. If you are unable to download from your podcast provider, feel free to email us to be added to our MP3 email list.
Special thanks to my old friend, colleague and radio guy, Zane, for lending me his voice to introduce each episode.
As I call New Westminster home, I recognize and respect that New Westminster is on the unceded and unsurrendered land of the Halkomelem speaking peoples. I acknowledge that colonialism has made invisible their histories and connections to the land. As a City, we are learning and building relationships with the people whose lands we are on.