Here Be Dragons-Release Date: Sept. 13, 2005

The Roosevelts had their demons; so it is, of course, only natural that Peta Karel Neumann, true to his “inspiring NON FICTIONAL, writing style” -- over-exaggeration, fictionalisation, innuendos, outright lies--all generously garnished with long worn out clichés -- being the core of Newman's style; should have dragons– having them did help sell some books.

All this tells me that Canada's media, political junkies, and Celebrity worshipers regard our politics as a form of entertainment, a soap opera best discussed in breathless clichés. But then, Canada has never had a true government; our political leaders??? are merely characters—following a script written in the United States of the Americas-- in a psychodrama, not advocates for ways to run OUR country. Their character personalities, not the plot programs, are what matter.

Dragons originated in China 
But,
I Al Girvan) Am  One , by the Chinese Calendar,
 I'm a long way from  dead
So, Enough Smoke,
Let's Breath Some Fire.

About the; updated version, of Mr Newman's book; with the  new epilogue ;the #1 political bestseller, is somewhat revised

Note, in this brief outline, Mr Newmans two favourite words I, AND ( see, also; the BOOK).

Alvy, the Vancouver (1990) "Mystery" Woman.

For The Love Of Alvy

Starting with; the Suicide Pact:

"Having become indispensable,

each to the others life, 

Alvy and I made a pact both vowing:

'if you ever leave me, I'm coming with you.'

Alvy Jan Bjorklund was; according to this author, "born to a family that had left Sweden, for Minnesota in the early 1800s and drifted north in time. She had spent her adult life in Calgary and breezed into Vancouver about the same time I did and in 1993, she had placed an ad in the singles column of the Sun and I had responded, using the code name [(alias)] Paul Nelson. Shyness, not modesty, caused me to employ a pseudonym [(alias)]and her mother advised her 'Answer this one.'

The following summer, in the Stanley Park Fish House restaurant [(a place far better known for buskers, pan handlers, some artsy/fartsy remnants of the drippy generation, and gold digging, social status seeking, BIMBOS, than so called, mostly very much self perceived, celebrities or dignitaries. You are not going to find a John or Sandy Girvan, Andrew, Bob, or Ron Coyle (Girvan family millionaires/TRUE celebrities all), a Jimmy Pattison,or anyone with serious family, or child, raising commitments, hanging around Stanley Park. Such, "real" people, do not have the time to waste)]. She caught my eye, [(she is, and always has been; considered a practical joke; pulled on the no delusions or hallucinations,"real world"  Girvan family. Alvina also started teaching her eldest daughter, Dan-A, from a very early age, to act, and look, like the shrew that constantly sucked on thingies which left a bad taste in it's mouth.)], just as she was leaving and I ogled her so intensely that her friend, then Taiwan ambassador, Ron Barlet, commented on my obvious rapture.

The following year, Maclean's reception [(more dignitaries and a talk show even-Do shows like Maury, Jerry Springer & Steve Wilkos cost to appear on-or, do the producers pay these comic book characters?)] At the same time I was saying to myself: Newman, give your head a shake Newman, this woman looks to be in her thirties. When she mentioned being a grand mother-a legitimate status for  an old foggy like me. I moved in for the kill.

The details of that first evening are misty now because I was captivated by her company. I asked her for her card, explaining that as a writer... I rushed home and composed a readers slip. At that point Alvy was forty two and had little in common with men of her own age but to her age was no physical barrier"
[(Both, she and her mother might have been well advised to consult with a good psychologist; or, even a psychiatrist about the "I can't quite make the grade, sexual attraction to the "Father Image" and "Sugar Daddy/Predator Syndrome, relationships.)]

"Nothing is changed except

there was a moment when

the wolf, the mongering wolf

who stands out side the shelf."

[(Takes Mun-I Hun-I)]

Although, her maternal grandfather Alasdair Girvan, my father's older brother, was a Scottish immigrant, (Dad, like all other brothers and sisters was Canadian born) and her maternal grandmother's family were refugees
from the U.S.A. = a matter of survival.
They had been forced to leave the Sawyer Wisconsin area, after the collapse of the Pine Lumber Industry-ever wonder why Canfor and the Zavisha family, both, just happened to set up sawmills near Hines Creek?
Out of greed, and PLAIN STUPIDITY(Estimates are that IQ is about 80% heritable, and the big five personality factors are about 50% heritable.)two very, very common traits, among those who SELF-DEFINE THEMSELVES as "AMERICAN"; these people cut down every pine tree, completely desecrating; HELL, THEY WIPED IT OUT; what could and should have been a very SUSTAINABLE, very PROFITABLE, economic resource, virtually, forever.
Drawn by a mining company ad offering free land, the refugees then came up from the U.S. and either walked or drove oxen, (no phone, no lights, no motor car; not a single luxury and unlike some TV cast-a-ways, no suitcase, not even an old grain sack, full of money); to Bentley from Lacombe Alberta, (my mother's place of birth-this should, tell you something) was the closest railroad station between 1888-1890. The first church was built in 1890 by Methodists.These people were not farmers and none had ever seen a "Boy Cow".
Alisdair and Beatrice were married in Bentley. 

Alvy Newman, B.Sc., M.H.A.

Four years is more the usual, but if you are reasonably bright, motivated and have good literary, communication, and analytical, skills a B. Sc. can be obtained in two years or less.

Master of Health Administration (MHA)students begin coursework in the fall and enrol for five consecutive semesters (fall, spring, summer internship, fall, and spring). While, comparatively speaking, it is not an intensive program; students are in the program for two years and complete 63 graduate credit hours.  Tuition, UBC, per year, $13,146.48. Student Fees (yearly)   $797.00 (approx.)

Wh-ah-ah-ah-t, Ree-ee-ee-ly- and SHE still had time to "breeze" around.

This would have bean EXTREMELY COMMENDABLE-and an equally REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT-if, as the author claims, it could be achieved by a single, working mother, (course is full time, on campus, so, by default any jobs must be part time/night work) of two, young, fully dependent, daughters.

A further internship must be completed during the summer after the first year of coursework. The internship is supervised fieldwork and is an opportunity to apply concepts and skills learned in the classroom to a health-related organization. The internship is  also a full-time commitment during the summer semester (typically 10 to 12 weeks). Students earn 6 graduate credit hours for the internship. Possible settings include health delivery organizations, managed care organizations, governmental agencies, consulting firms and charitable organizations.

Both degrees are virtually useless however, as real healthcare administration jobs mostly go to registered nurses who already have, at least, one specialized  Master's degree in the field of nursing.

The "Real" Alvina Jean Bjorklund was raised 51 miles southwest, of Peace River in Alberta’s Montagneuse River Valley. For some reason that can be known only to him; it has nothing what ever to do with anything,  or anyone, in this book; Mr. Newman mentions having once kayaked or canoed near Peace River. Who cares-really?
Catherine Ada Marie Girvan-Bjorklund, Alvina's mother was born and spent most all of her life in the Waterhole/Eureka River (Fairview, Hines Creek) area. Despite some delusions of grandeur, even in that very small pond, neither mother or daughter ever came close to being the big fish or, for that matter,even legitimate,trophy material. 

  Pictured left to right:Karen Girvan Budd Elliot, Catherine Ada Girvan Bjorklund (Alvina's Mother), Davola Catherine Lorene Girvan

Davola Catherine Lorene Girvan, Alvina Jean Bjorklund Doll Newman

For a number of years, Alvina shared a house, located in Fairview Alberta with Karen Girvan Budd Elliot. She and Karen also spent some time living in Edmonton (for awhile with Gladys myself and our two kids. 
Karen has spent most of her life working in hotel bars; yet, notably, it was Karen, not the  brilliantly shining, feather brained, fabulously fascinating (to some), high profile, with seductively mysterious-eyes, like 48 inch pipe wrenches, causing your nuts to tighten- Alvy, that was able to buy the house and a few other small business as well. Like Davola, her half sister, (approximately, twenty years younger); as a young teen, Karen, loved to hear "tales from the house of Girvan"(many as told by me) and fantasized being a Girvan, Scottish, princess. 
in adulthood, the fantasies soon ended. She is now a no B.S., no nonsense, very determined woman. Karen had to gather anything; and everything; that she now has through using her own resources, and she did so while supporting a son and daughter; yes, she is a single mother- for longer than Alvina ever was; or ever could have been.

In 1928, the railroad extended west from Whitelaw Alberta; through the Beaver Indian Reserve; and across a stubble field to where the Hamlet of Fairview was established. The community of Waterhole, five miles to the south, was packed onto skids and wagons and relocated to the railroad site. The first train rolled into Fairview on November 2, 1928. The hamlet was incorporated as a village on April 22, 1929. In 1949, the village was incorporated into the Town of Fairview.

Hines Creek, where Alvina lived for much of her early life is a village in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located 67 km west of Grimshaw and 28 km north of Fairview, along Highway 64. The population of the Village of Hines Creek according to its 2010 municipal census is 396. In 2006, Hines Creek had a population of 430 living in 176 dwellings, a 1.6% decrease from 2001. The village has a land area of 4.37 km (1.69 sq mi just over a section and a half) and a population density of 98.4 inhabitants per square kilometre. In celebration of being the end of the road; Hines Creek erected the World’s Largest Railroad Spike in 1992, measuring 13 feet high and 15 inches wide.  “Spike Park” is a beautiful spot for taking pictures of the spike, wooden train and a telegraph line all nestled in the picturesque northwest corner of Alberta, 115 km west of Peace River and approximately 130 km east of Ft. St. John, British Columbia.

Some More, Ancient History:

The Beaver Indian Band named two local creeks after a man of the fur trade, Jack Hines:  Hines Creek and Jack Creek, hence the Village’s handle of Hines Creek.  The coming of the railroad brought many changes to the area.   The first was the moving of Hines Creek from south of Many Islands Lake, now known as George Lake, to the north, placing it at rails end, hence the Village’s official motto “End of Steel”.  

At Age 75, Peter C. Newman Fabricates the Story of his Stranger-to Reality Life.
He writes his non fiction in very much the same way as a JAZZ musician plays music; working about a stated main theme; with jamming, licks, riffs, and improvisions. The difference; Mr Newman be it merely self indulgence, or the onset of a dementia, often uses worn out cliches, and made up dialogue, apparently, he is unconcerned,or possibly, unable to remember, anything factual about the STATED THEME, subject, or title, of his material.

So, try to keep up as we follow a tale of many lives: of a pampered child in a Czech château; a Jewish kid in short pants being machine-gunned by Nazi fighter planes on the beach at Biarritz, en route to the last ship to escape from France in 1940; as a, wealthy, refugee, claimant, on an Ontario farm; as an outsider, on a scholarship at Upper Canada College; as a Financial Post journalist, then as an author; whose 1963 Renegade in Power made Canadian politics dramatic and disrespectfully exciting for the first time (you know, just as the Kennedys and Marilyn Monroe made politics in the U.S.A. and Trudeau made Canadian politics” disrespectfully" exciting. Must have been later; they did that, DID THAT); as the man who revealed the secrets of the rulers of the Canadian business world in The Canadian Establishment, and other huge business success stories, including The Establishment Man, on Conrad Black; or the millionaire who turned his back on business books and tackled Canadian history (Company of Adventurers and other triumphs), and in a career where in his mind at least, his works have dominated the bestseller lists in politics, business, history, and current affairs.

Never Forget:

Peta Karel Neumann, briefly a resident of Deep Cove, B.C., was born in Vienna, Austria in 1929. His parents were Wanda Maria and Oscar Karel Neumann, a wealthy factory owner.

Adolf Hitler, despite becoming the dictator of Germany, Hitler was not born there. Hitler, born in Braunau am Inn, Austria on April 20, 1889, was known as "Adi" in his youth. Hitler's father, Alois, was in his third marriage and 51 years old when Hitler was born. Known as a strict man who retired from the civil service, Adolf Hitler’s father did not approve of his interest in fine art rather than business. Throughout his youth, Hitler dreamed of becoming an artist. He applied twice to the Vienna Academy of Art (once in 1907 and again in 1908) but was denied entrance both times.

No one is quite sure where or how Hitler picked up his virulent anti-Semitism. Some say it was because of the questionable identity of his grandfather (Was Hitler's grandfather Jewish? There are many that believe so.).

Although Hitler attempted to avoid Austrian military service by moving to Munich, Germany in May 1913, Hitler volunteered to serve in the German army once World War I began.

Hitler endured and survived four years of World War I. During this time, he was awarded two Iron Crosses for bravery.

Hitler sustained two major injuries during the war. The first occurred in October 1916 when he was wounded by a grenade splinter. The other was on October 13, 1918, when a gas attack caused Hitler to go temporarily blind.

It was while Hitler was recovering from the gas attack that the armistice (i.e. the end of the fighting) was announced. Hitler was furious that Germany had surrendered and felt strongly that Germany had been "stabbed in the back" by its leaders. On October 13, 1918, the fore mentioned gas attack caused him to go temporarily blind. While recuperating in a hospital, Hitler heard the news of the end of the war and of Germany's defeat. His anger and feelings of betrayal shaped his and the world's future.

Hitler Gets Political

After the war, many in Germany felt betrayed by the German government for their sudden and unexpected surrender. The subsequent inflation made even finding a job and day-to-day living difficult for the average German citizen.

And Peta Karel Neumann Goes From Being a Pampered Jewish Child in a Czech Chateau to Being Strafed by Nazi Fighter Planes on a Biarritz beach to escaping from France on the last available ship in 1940. As a refugee on a farm that his family purchased near Freeman, Ontario, he learned English and earned a scholarship to Upper Canada College where he met some of the elite figures he would later profile in his journalism career. Along the way he worked underground at Bevcourt Gold Mines in Northern Quebec, served as Captain in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, played the drums, had a stint as a magician at Eaton's Toytown and married Christina McCall-Newman, one of his four wives. As a Financial Post columnist he wrote Renegade in Power: The Diefenbaker Years (1963), the first of his books about Canadian politics. Editor of Maclean's magazine from 1971 to 1982, he is most widely known for his books on Canada's business elite, such as The Canadian Establishment, The Acquisitors and his profile of Conrad Black entitled The Establishment Man. His trilogy on the Hudson's Bay Company has also made him one of Canada's most successful historians[think about it, how could Mr. Newman know anything, other than what he read and copied, about the history of the Hudson'sBay company--how could HE possibly be a historian?}. An avid sailor and jazz enthusiast, Newman briefly taught “non-creative fiction” at UVic (to the more literate readers, the University of Victoria). Although he moved (briefly) to Europe in the new Millennium, he remained active as one of Canada's most high-profile writers and commentators, releasing his memoirs with Douglas Gibson Books as Here Be Dragons: Telling “Tales” of People, Passion and Power (2004). It was his 22nd book.

"Being Canadian is not a nationality," he has said. "If somebody says they're Swedish or Japanese they define themselves" 
But then, being a reasonably intelligent man, Mr Newman must also realize: If that somebody  is born in say Canada; and that somebody's parents are of mixed blood lines; then that some body can not be Japanese or Swedish; they are of partial Japanese or Swedish heritage. That somebody might still be Christian, Jewish, Moslem all of which are religions not nationalities; or that somebody might self identify as being Japanese or Swedish; but, facts speak different-these somebodies are all mongrel hybrids. They  can have no true nationality-other that is-than Canadian, or of course, American-NORTH AMERICAN
"But being Canadian is an act of faith, something very different, because it is full of potentials that are as yet unrealised. Being Canadian is a very, very precious commodity. You have to wonder what it is that people around the earth know that we don't know. Why is everyone trying to come here to a country that we take for granted. That's the only advantage that we immigrants have. We never take Canada for granted because we know what a precious place it is."

Peta Karel Neuman-served as editor of the Toronto Star, and was the long-time editor of Maclean's, stewarding its transformation from a general interest magazine to a weekly news magazine. He continues to write a column for the periodical. In 1978 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and was promoted to the rank of Companion in 1990.

Something is wrong with a country's political discourse when that discourse is dominated by a man who can't write.

That man, of course, is now, Peter C. Newman, who has been bloviating about Canadian business and politics for over half a century. Recall, Renegade in Power, published in 1963, as an entertaining takedown of John Diefenbaker. But I was young and impressionable then.

Newman injects himself into the narrative with autobiographical frequency. He tries to tell Stephane Dion a dumb joke ("Change your first name to Celine! You'll win by a landslide!") and then criticizes Dion's "sense of humour slumbering undisturbed." When he interviews Ignatieff, every question starts with "I": "I reminded him..." "I asked..." "I commented.." Hell most of his sentences start with I. Structurally, the book is a mess. If you should wish to run  any page from any of his books through a word processor/grammar/spelling check and you will quickly come to know that Mr Newman,our former editor, needs  a good editor-like badly.

Winners to Losers

That's another aspect of Newman and his writing: he's fascinated by winners but, they, like him, often turn out to be losers.

This tells me that Canada's media and political junkies regard our politics as a form of entertainment, a soap opera best discussed in breathless clichés. However, this is not surprising; our Politicians and Political leaders ???, are merely characters in a psychodrama, not advocates for ways to run our country.

Obviously, and thankfully, not all Canadian non fiction and/or political writing is as trivially pompous as Newman's.