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The AIH Transcript for December 5, 2016

Hosts: Carol Off and Jeff Douglas

STORIES FROM THIS EPISODE

Prologue

CAROL OFF: Hello. I'm Carol off.

JEFF DOUGLAS: Good evening. I'm Jeff Douglas. This is As It Happens.

[Music: Theme]

JD: Tonight.

CO: The ghost of a chant, Conservative leadership hopeful Chris Alexander explains why he did what he did and didn't do what he didn't do when people at a rally chanted “lock her up” about Alberta Premier Rachel Notley.

JD: It started as a party, ended as a tragedy. Our guest was at an Oakland warehouse on Friday night when the fire began. He is still waiting to hear about friends who have been missing since.

CO: An unclear but present danger. It began as an absurd, baseless conspiracy theory that spread online. Then yesterday a man showed up at a D.C. pizzeria to investigate Pizzagate for himself and he brought a firearm with him.

JD: Unease vis-a-vis visas. The U.S. state department shuts down a fake U.S. embassy in the capital of Ghana raising two questions. How did it operate for a decade? And how many visas did it hand out over that time?

CO: A dental man and a scholar. He thought long and hard. So his invention is both. And tonight a Swedish guy takes us through the process of creating the world's biggest toothpick.

JD: And. While someone's got deep sockets at auction the successful bidder takes home five antique light bulbs for the astonishing price of $30,000 U.S. bucks which seems pricey even if two were made by Thomas Edison. As It Happens the Monday edition, radio that is well designed, impressively mature, always illuminating.

[Music: Theme]

Part 1: Alberta carbon tax rally: Chris Alexander, Standing Rock: pipeline protester, Edison bulbs auction

Alberta carbon tax rally: Chris Alexander

Guest: Chris Alexander

JEFF DOUGLAS: During the U.S. presidential campaign. It got to the point where all Donald Trump had to do was mention Hillary Clinton and his supporters would begin the chant. “Lock her up.” Well now people are chanting those three words again this time in Canada in front of the Alberta legislature and this time the chant is aimed at Premier Rachel Notley. That started on Saturday during a speech by Conservative leadership hopeful Chris Alexander at a rally against the provinces planned carbon tax. This is what it sounded like.

SOUNDCLIP

CHRIS ALEXANDER: We can either lower taxes, build up our industries, create the jobs, send energy and send the products of our agriculture and our industry around the world. Or we can do the opposite; we can do what Rachel Notley is doing.

CROWD: (chants of disapproval) lock her up, lock her up, lock her up!

CA: I know what you’re going to do the next time there is a chance. I know how powerful this group and millions of people across this province are going to be at the ballot box next time.

JEFF DOUGLAS: So that was part of a speech by Conservative leadership hopeful Chris Alexander at a rally organized by the right wing site The Rebel Media. In a video of that speech Mr. Alexander can be seen smiling and looking on while the crowd chants. We reached Chris Alexander in Toronto.

CAROL OFF: Mr. Alexander, welcome back to As It Happens.

CHRIS ALEXANDER: Thank you very much, Carol.

CO: You're not going to hang up on me are you?

CA: (Laughing) never and there's no chance today because I'm not expected in Question Period.

CO: On a more serious note, we want talk to you about this rally in Edmonton and this video that shows as the crowd started to chant a very familiar slogan “lock her up,” and this time about Rachel Notley. What was going through your mind when you heard the crowd do that?

CA: Well, to that point I'd been speaking for some time. The crowd had been responding enthusiastically to my message which is about jobs in Alberta, helping the unemployed. And then all of a sudden this new chant began. I had not initiated it. I had not foreseen it. And when I heard that I was actually mortified because I don't ever think our democracy should be associated with calls for illegal, unconstitutional action. I like many Canadians, were dismayed by what I saw happening across the border in these recent months.

CO: I guess the issue is that in the video which was taken by people at the rally that you're smiling when they are saying “lock her up” and your hand is moving in rhythm to the chant as the people say “lock her up.” So why were you doing that?

CA: Well, I think there's a distinction here between those who were at the rally and who saw what I said next. Those who are not at the rally who want to imply that I was somehow instigating this chant in fact, at first on Twitter I was accused of having participated in a chat which I did not do and I was dismayed. I was in fact, mortified and I was trying to think fast on my feet. And the next message that came out of my mouth was about voting was about ballot boxes. Do I wish that the chad did not happen? Yes, but at the same time I take the anger and frustration of the people who were there very seriously. This is a group of people I spoke to made them before and during and after the rally who lost their jobs. They're part of this 100,000 person cohort in Alberta in the private sector who've lost jobs since the downturn began and they're worried that with a carbon tax that other oil producing jurisdictions won't have, their jobs haven't just gone away, they're not coming back.

CO: Lots of people have lost their jobs and they're not standing saying “lock her up” about Rachel Notley. So this is this is a specific reaction and I guess what people are saying is that if you feel so strongly about it as you as you are saying here why didn't you say this is not right. This is not how we do this. This is not the direction I want to be taking my leadership.

CA: Well that's exactly what I did. I said let's go to the ballot box. Not do things that involve committing illegal act and I've been saying it ever since.

CO: And you did that. You said that in your speech you moved on to that, but you didn't address this chant this very offensive reaction to Rachel Notley. So I guess once again why didn't you? Are you rethinking that today? Are you thinking that you should have and might have addressed that directly?

CA: Well, I think I addressed it by not participating in it in any way and by delivering a different message immediately. I'm also well aware Carol, that there have been calls for people to be locked up in the past when I was in government. There was a petition signed by 12,000 Canadians calling for Stephen Harper to be locked up literally for signing across borders security agreement with the United States. David Suzuki called for Stephen Harper to be locked up for leaving or jailed for leaving the Kyoto Accord.

CO: Was that offensive to you when those are made about. And did you wish that someone had stood up and said that's wrong don't say that?

CA: Well, I think the most powerful instrument we have as politicians and in media is the power of our example not to engage in these things to call people out to not make false accusations on Twitter and elsewhere. And that's what I try to do and will continue to do every step of the way. Because I think it is about the economy and about creating jobs. That's what that demonstration was about. And if you look at my whole speech and all the speeches given that day they were given in quite a constructive frame of mind.

CO: This event was organized by Rebel Media and Ezra Levant, he has said that he is inspired by the ultra-right wing U.S. website Breitbart. An organization that is misogynist and racist quite often should that have given you any pause? Did you think about it before you joined a rally that was sponsored by Rebel Media?

CA: Rebel Media has a big and growing following in Canada. I see them as a Canadian news organization that covers issues that others don't cover. But in this case they were organizing a meeting on an issue that is at the core of my campaign. I want to talk to Canadians, Conservatives and Canadians across the board about job creation about the opportunity in front of us.

CO: Rachel Notley who was the subject of this or the target of this attack and this “lock her up” she has been subjected to threats of violence. Her face was used as a target at a golf tournament by oil executives and she's not alone. We saw Sandra Jansen an MLA in Alberta who left the Progressive Conservative leadership race when she said it had become misogynist. And what do you say to these attacks on female politicians?

CA: I think it's awful. It's one of the reasons why I'm in politics. I cannot abide a political arena in Canada or anywhere where these kinds of things happen. We have to stand together to create space for respect, to create space for bringing more women into politics and to make sure that this country lives up to its ideals.

CO: And did that rally create space of that nature — of respect?

CA: It was an absolutely an absolutely upbeat, well managed, positive rally with the exception of that one chant and that occupied less than 30 seconds of several hours.

CO: You say that this is a powerful movement that Ezra Levant is creating. Will you hesitate before you take part in an event again of Rebel Media’s?

CA: I won't hesitate to take part in any event that helps us as politicians connect with Albertans and Canadians of all walks of life especially those who need our help in getting their jobs back.

CO: And if you could speak to this man who started the chart to chant directly what would you say to him?

CA: I'd simply say we can do better in Canada. We are not Trump. We are not Trudeau. We are Canada and in our case we are Canadian Conservatives. We are constructive. We look to the future. We respect one another, but we don't leave anyone out. We are inclusive and we also respect what people have to say. I can't tell people who lost their jobs in Fort McMurray or elsewhere how to feel or how they should be expressing their frustration, their very strong emotions. They have the right to express themselves. I am the one I see my role as listening to them and trying to fashion a better set of policies a better platform for the future.

CAROL OFF: Mr. Alexander, thank you.

CHRIS ALEXANDER: Thanks very much, Carol.

JEFF DOUGLAS: We reached Chris Alexander in Toronto. Mr. Alexander is running for the leadership of the Federal Conservative Party. For more on this story and to see video of this rally that was the subject of conversation go to our website www.cbc.ca/aih

[Music: Indie rock]

Standing Rock: pipline protester

Guest: Simon Moya-Smith

JEFF DOUGLAS: People protesting the Dakota Access pipeline finally had something to celebrate yesterday. The U.S. Department of the Army said that it will not approve the construction of the pipeline under a part of the Missouri River. For months members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and their supporters have been camping out near the site of the pipeline in protest. They are concerned that it could damage land and contaminate water. Simon Moya-Smith is an activist and a culture editor at Indian Country Today. We reached Mr. Moya-Smith at the Standing Rock Reservation, in North Dakota.

CAROL OFF: Mr. Moya-Smith, I know you were at one of the protest camps by Standing Rock yesterday when this announcement from the U.S. Army came through. Can you describe the reaction what the moment was like?

SIMON MOYA-SMITH: It was excitement. It was a victory. We realized that you know we didn't win the war, we won a battle, but there was definitely celebration.

CO: And what do you say to those who think they have accomplished it. They have killed the pipeline at least the part that goes through their territory. What do you say to them?

SM: Well, we know that it's not dead. We know that this pipeline is not dead. We know there's a lot of money and influence and politics behind this pipeline. There are a lot of powerful people at play including Donald Trump. But we also realize that this isn't the only pipeline that is threatening water in this country — threatening the health of Mother Earth. So we just want people to know that we need to continue moving forward continue the momentum because if it's not this pipeline it's another pipeline. But we're excited that at least at least now for now that construction has halted.

CO: Well, there are a lot of things that suggest that it may proceed. And just to point to a few we’re talking about this U.S. Department of the Army press release that says that the army will not grant the easement. That's what we're celebrating that they need to explore alternate routes for the Dakota Access pipeline all of this. But at the same time the companies behind it Energy Transfer and Sunoco are saying that doesn't change anything that they quote, “fully expect to complete construction of the pipeline without any additional rerouting.” Why do you think they would make such a strong statement if it was not going to happen?

SM: Because of being a whiny, sore losers disappointed. You know they're not getting their way and these companies are used to getting their way. You know when there's this when there's so much money and influence behind it these people know nothing but getting their way. And they didn't get their way. They're not getting their way they're trying to save face. They're trying to posture and they said that they're not going to back down, but we're not going to back down either. We've been protecting this land since time and memorial we'll continue to do that. And because we're doing that because they think they have a right to our land they're frustrated. And I think they're just lashing out.

CO: The New York Times is reporting that they believe the Donald Trump administration could ultimately decide to allow these original route to go through because he he's he said he's for it. He doesn't think it should be rerouted. So is it possible that when he takes over from Mr. Obama that you will see all of this decision on the part of the army disappear?

SM: Well, you know I mean we're expecting that as well because we know that Donald Trump also said he wants to resurrect the Keystone XL pipeline. We know that he thinks you know I know. I don't think he understands what the presidency is. You know he's of course a businessman and you know he sees this as a turn on his investment — the White House being a turn on his investment. So we understand that he's gung ho about it we know that he also invested in this pipeline in the Dakota Access pipeline but we're not going anywhere. It doesn’t matter if it’s him it doesn't matter if it's Morton County Sheriffs, Donald Trump, Dakota Access pipeline. We have to protect the water we have to protect the water and our land. All of us have a right to protect the water the health and well-being of the water our children drink that we bathe our kids and that's our right as human beings. That's our right also as Americans. So whether you're Native American or not you have a right to make sure that what you are providing your children with is good, is healthy and it isn't poisoned and that's simply what we're doing.

CO: And when you say that Mr. Trump is invested it said that he owns stock in the company building the pipeline Energy Transfer Partners, but he has said that his support for building the pipeline has nothing to do with his personal investment.

SM: Well of course, he's a liar and we all know that. We've seen that. We know he backpedals we know you said things and then steps away from them. We can't trust anything that he says, but we know he's a businessman. We know that means in his interests we know he doesn't believe in climate change. We know what we're going to be facing for the next four years and frighteningly enough possibly the next eight years. This country you know we reelected you know George W. and I mean that was surprising. Let alone we have this guy so for it we don't know how long this fight can last four years eight years. We're preparing for it.

CO: I know there's a blizzard that's hit you in a big snowstorm and yesterday's decision a lot of people are believing that that means that they have won. Are you expecting the protesters to stay at Standing Rock?

SM: Oh yeah. We are expecting to stay. Again I think people forget that you know this is Lakota territory. This is our ancestral land. This is our Italy. This is our Ireland. We haven't left. We're not going anywhere. Some people may have come in from other areas of course, we understand that our white allies: Irish, Scottish, Italian, German etc. But this is our ancestral land and we've always fought for it. We haven't left. We're still here we didn't cross an ocean. We are here protecting our land and we will continue to do that.

CO: And the sheriff has said that your demonstration is an unlawful protest and they the police have said the protesters are rioters as you know. They've said that and that they say that it's intimidating the ranchers and threatening law enforcement agents. They're determined to see you go. What kind of the kind of opposition are you expecting if you if you stay?

SM: The same old opposition that we've been facing for 524 years hasn't that been the narrative? This isn't a new story — that's always been the story. Get the Indians out. Our law says that you can't be here even though this is our ancestral land. That's always been the narrative it hasn't changed. The only thing that has changed is they’re coming in armored vehicles instead of white or yellow scarves dressed as the Calvary. It's the same old colonial aggressive imperialistic story that has been mired this country and now people are having to face it.

CAROL OFF: We will continue to follow this story. Mr. Moya-Smith, thank you.

SIMON MOYA-SMITH: Thank you.

JEFF DOUGLAS: Simon Moya-Smith is an activist and the culture editor at Indian Country Today. We reached Mr. Moya-Smith at the Standing Rock Reservation, in North Dakota.

[Music: Folk]

Electoral reform

JEFF DOUGLAS: When it comes to electoral reform. There has been a whole lot of consulting going on. We told you last week about the disagreements that erupted after the all-party committee struck by the Liberals to investigate the subject issued its report, calling for a referendum. Well, now the government is taking another approach. Today Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef launched an online survey. Canadians will have on till December 30th to fill it out. The opposition parties are of course, not impressed. Here is a Minister Monsef this afternoon addressing the House of Commons, followed by NDP MP Nathan Cullen and Conservative MP Scott Reid.

SOUNDCLIP

MARY MONSEF: www.mydemocracy.ca is a new, engaging initiative that will allow Canadians to have a say in this conversation. Mr Speaker, as of just a few hours ago over 8,000 unique users have participated in this conversation in about the values they find most dear to them. We look forward to hearing from many more over the course of this next month.

NATHAN CULLEN: And 20,000 tweets mocking this survey. The first rule of engagement the Liberals should learn is not to treat Canadians like they're stupid. Last week the Minister for Democratic Institutions insulted our committee and the thousands of Canadians who participated with us in this process because we weren't specific enough for her. Yet, today we see a pop-psych survey from this minister. And there's no mention of electoral systems whatsoever. Almost 90 per cent of everyone who spoke to the committee recommend our proportional voting system. Yet, the minister can even bring herself to put the word proportional in her survey. If the minister truly wants a clear answer why would she simply ask the obvious questions?

GEOF REGAN: The Honorable Minister of Democratic Institutions.

MM: Mr. Speaker, I thank the Honorable Member for his question and his hard work on the special Committee on Electoral Reform. Mr. Speaker, research around the world shows, as does the report from the committee, that the best way to have a conversation that is inclusive, that is accessible about electoral reform with the citizenry is through a value-based approach. Should there be more diversity in this house? Should they be smaller parties representing a diverse range of voices? Or should be larger parties representing a broad set of perspectives? Should voting be mandatory and online? These are the questions.

SCOTT REID: Mr Speaker, being on www.mydemocracy.ca doesn’t feel like a value-based approach. It feels like being on a dating website designed by Fidel Castro. No matter how hard you try to be against the Prime Minister’s preferred electoral system. The survey tells you that you really do support it. It's like magic. Also with this website the government has finally found a way of resolving the problem that Canadians keep on giving Liberals the answers they don't want just don't ask those questions. For example, the questionnaire doesn't ask whether Canadians want a referendum. I wonder why that might be would it because the liberals don't want to know the answer to that?

JEFF DOUGLAS: Conservative MP Scott Reid, Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef and NDP MP Nathan Cullen.

[Music: Jazz]

Edison bulbs auction

JEFF DOUGLAS: Last weekend five artisanal light bulbs sold for $30,000 U.S. dollars, but somebody didn't pay six-thousand bucks a pop simply because the bulbs will look cool. They paid that much because two of those bulbs were created by Thomas Edison himself. They were used as exhibits when he sued three companies he accused of infringing on his patent. Don Ackerman works at the auction house that sold the collection. We reached him in Dallas.

CAROL OFF: Mr. Ackerman, can you describe these light bulbs?

DON ACKERMAN: Well, there's a variety of them actually. There's a couple that were made by Edison and there's others that were made by competitors: different shapes and some of them have labels attached because they were exhibits in a lawsuit.

CO: And these labels are because I mean Thomas Edison didn't invent the light bulb, but he did have a patent fight over it. So what was the innovation that Edison had brought to the light bulb?

DA: Well, I mean you're correct Edison did not invent the light bulb. I think what he did is he perfected the filament so that the filament would not burn out quickly and he perfected how it was attached so that it didn't break off prematurely. He basically made it commercially viable and practical to sell it to the consumers.

CO: And so what was the case that he was in court trying to prove. Tell us a bit about that patent case?

DA: The bulbs were retained by his attorneys and I believe in one case he got an injunction, but in the other cases the judges decided to hold off until there could be a trial. And as in most law cases that dragged on for a while and during the course of the trial, Eddison’s patent expired.

CO: Now why would someone pay $30,000 for these old lightbulbs?

DA: Well, we're not sure if it was a museum or a private collector. There are people that collect old technology and scientific items. The light bulbs by themselves, if they weren't associated with a lawsuit they probably wouldn't have much value. Like another said most of these bulbs here and there's a socket also. They date from the time of the trial they date from about 1893 or so. Even though the Edison bulb that has a label that has the patent date of February 1880, that bulb is actually was made a little later. The original bulb from 1880, those are very rare. And as a matter of fact, we had a gentleman that contacted us who has one of the original bulbs 1880 which he indicates is worth about $40,000. The Edison bulb here that we had just the other one but by itself it didn't have the court label on it it's probably about a five-hundred dollar item. That's where the value as the value wasn't so much in the light bulbs but on little pieces of paper that were attached to the light bulbs.

CO: Can you tell us a bit about the men who put them up for auction and how he came to own them?

DA: Well, he's a gentleman from Pennsylvania and his great aunt whose name was Anna Knutson married a patent attorney named John C. Roe and John C. Roe was a member of a law firm that was employed by Edison in these patent infringement cases. They use these for exhibits and then they were retained by the law office and probably put in a file cabinet. And eventually when the law office closed I guess the partners decided to take home whatever they wanted and these items including the keys to his laboratory at Menlo Park descended in the family of the consigner.

CO: Now do any of the bulbs actually work. Did anyone test them?

DA: No we haven't we haven't tested them but we're assuming they probably all do work. These were pretty sturdy. Unless the filament is broken they probably do work. Actually we never thought of testing them out, but I wouldn't be surprised if they all work.

CO: But there's this as you know there's this craze for Edison bulbs remakes of them and there you see them that you go to restaurants or coffee shops and people have these not very bright light bulbs because they feel nostalgic for them. And what do you make of that resurgence?

DA: I sort of like that. You know I mean I'm not a big fan of fluorescent lighting either. And you know these bulbs have a certain charm to them. They were built to last and I know there's a case of an Edison light bulb and a firehouse out in California that I think if it's still going it was going for at least a hundred years it was installed in 1902 and I think as of about 10 or 15 years ago it was it was still burning. I don't know I just think they had a certain warm feel and warm atmosphere and it goes along with the nice you know like if you're in a bar the you know the brass railings and the tile floors and the tin ceilings you know it's not like we want to live in the past, but it has a lot more character to it. Some of the fixtures that you see today really lack character and these really do give a feel of you know sort of more interesting times you might say.

CO: And I think that light bulb is still working?

DA: Yeah it's amazing.

CAROL OFF: All right we'll leave it there Mr. Ackerman, thank you.

DON ACKERMAN: OK. Thank you.

JEFF DOUGLAS: We reached Don Ackerman in Dallas and you can see those bulbs and hear that interview again or share there on our website www.cbc.ca/aih

Part 2: Oakland fire, Pizzagate

Oakland fire

Guest: Nihar Bhatt

JEFF DOUGLAS: It was known as the Ghost Ship to the artists who lived and worked there. Now it's gone. On Friday night, the warehouse was the site of one of the most horrific fires in the recent history of Oakland. It began during a party that was taking place in the Ghost Ship. So far 36 people have been confirmed dead. Authorities say that that number will definitely rise. Nihar Bhatt is a deejay who attended the party on Friday. He managed to escape and tonight he is still waiting to hear about some of his missing friends. We reached Mr. Bhatt in San Francisco.

CAROL OFF: Nihar, first of all, I'm sorry for your loss.

NIHAR BHATT: Thank you.

CO: Have you had anything confirmed yet about your friends?

NB: Yes, some of my friends for years have been confirmed. The others I expect the other confirmations to come in soon. And I honestly I haven't been able to keep track of the confirmations.

CO: Can you describe the scene of the party when you arrived?

NB: You know, I came a little bit later than I might've otherwise for a confluence of reasons. And I got out of a car and walked over to the front of the building. I was going to walk right in. But then I saw that two of my good friends were outside and I went over to talk to them before going in. My close friend Russell Butler, I was talking to and Joey Cascio probably through our conversation Joey Cascio left the conversation to go into the building. He's now among the lost. But I continued to talk to Russell for a little bit longer. Just a few more minutes, at which point we turn to walk into the building as we were walking in we heard someone yell fire. And I think I actually said is it real? A real fire? And so people started streaming out of the building. And we sort of panicked and thought how could we get in there to help or something you know? But before we could even finish our thought you know within a minute the buildings are filling up with black smoke and it was billowing out of the entrances.

CO: Were you seeing people getting out getting out, escaping the building?

NB: Yes, but only a fraction of the people we need to be up there, which was a horrible realization. People were coming out you know calling their friends names and all of that. But then it stopped. It stopped very suddenly at a certain point no one else was coming out.

CO: That's just horrifying.

NB: Yes.

CO: How long before the fire department arrived?

NB: It was probably five to seven minutes after the first people came out.

CO: Were they able to get anyone is saved?

NB: from what I could see they weren't able to enter. They were they were smoked out as we were which was a surprise to me. I want to you know just have this fantasy that they were going to come in with gas masks and whisk everybody away and bring our friends out.

CO: Were you there most of the night?

NB: I was there for several hours after that.

CO: waiting for news?

NB: Yeah, waiting for news, waiting for you know to hear anything. Our only hope was that somehow people got out some other way.

CO: Can you tell me about the building itself and what kind of a venue it was?

NB: Well, there reason why we were there was because it was a venue that was that we could do a different type of event and you know a lot of times you know bars and clubs are not sufficient for our community to really center the artists to really be a venue where we can have the type of late night gathering that this music is meant for. Because bars and clubs are centered around alcohol consumption. And you know often seem like unsafe places for people who don't feel accepted, who are marginalized for one reason or another. People of color you know trans people, queer people those of us in the community that just don't identify with that kind of mainstream culture. This warehouse was sort of a living and art space and you know there were definitely a lot of drawbacks to it and I was among many other people that had reservations about the safety of the place. But there were so many fewer spaces like this available for people to live in who are artists. So you know a lot of us were willing to compromise.

CO: It also provided a place for some people to live. I mean we’re talking about struggling artists who can't afford other places. It was also accommodations was it?

NB: It absolutely was, you know. And it's you know this is a long tradition and this is something that's been happening around the area for years. You know and usually without incident you know I mean OK you know warehouse parties, people living in spaces like this for the most part, a warehouse can be a very safe and open place. Some warehouses I've been in are very spacious and have emergency exits and are probably safer than certain aboveboard venues that might have been there you know just it's all about the specifics of how it's organized.

CO: The authorities say the building had no sprinklers had only two exits. There was an ad hoc staircase made out of wooden pallets going to the second floor where most of the people were when the fire started. And it was under investigation for all kinds of violations of code. Now I guess there's a criminal investigation. What do you say to the people who own that building?

NB: I think if you are running a space like that you have a responsibility to see to it you know when you open up your doors to people that you are creating environment that as safe as humanly possible for people there and the fact that they knowingly just laughed in the face. It seems like from some of these reports that Derick Almena, the primary lease-holder laughed off and dismissed the many warnings not just from the city officials but also from friends and visitors to the location that told him all the time that this was a problem.

CO: How will how many people in your community the people who use this venue how will you celebrate and honor and remember your friends who you lost?

NB: I think there are going to be hundreds of different ways in which we do that offers of support have come in from all over. But you know there I for instance have a record label Left Hand Path and we’re are going to be releasing some of the music. We already were planning on some of these artists were on our label and we were planning on releasing music from that and that's absolutely going to happen.

CAROL OFF: Nihar, once again I'm so sorry for the loss of your friends and thank you for speaking with us.

NIHAR BHATT: Sure.

JEFF DOUGLAS: Nihar Bhatt is a DJ from San Francisco. He was at the warehouse party on Friday evening in Oakland when a fire broke out. Mr. Bhatt says some of his friends are still missing. Thirty six people have been confirmed dead to date.

[Music: Somber]

Syrian refuges

JEFF DOUGLAS: Over the past year. Canada has accepted more than 30,000 Syrian newcomers. On Friday, Metro Morning host Matt Galloway sat down with some of those no longer newcomers and the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau to reflect on the year and to discuss what comes next for Syrian refugees. The full interview went up online today and you can watch it at www.cbc.ca/toronto. And from that conversation here is Vanig Garabedian, a doctor from Aleppo. He along with his wife and his three daughters, were privately-sponsored refugees. They arrived at Pearson Airport in Toronto one year ago, and they were greeted there by the Prime Minister.

SOUNDCLIP

VANIG GARABEDIAN: I began I had a plan. The plan was about my kids, my wife and me and me personally. My kids I can say that their transition is very smooth and quick. Now they're doing skiing, skating like every Canadian did. But the thing is about our transition to professional life because being me a gynecologist I know for me my profession is about dealing with people. So I want to be a good contribution to the country.

MATT GALLOWAY: What is it that we could do to better as he says we are as a country being blessed now with knowledge arriving and skills and people who have profession. What are we doing to capitalize on that and make sure that that isn't being wasted?

JUSTIN TRUDEAU: Oh well, obviously we need to do a better job. There's always more to do in terms of integration and one of the things that you highlight is yes health care and specifically in terms of delivery being a provincial jurisdiction different provinces approach it in different ways. But I mean the fundamental challenge. I mean there's sort of two sides to it. One is whenever we welcome a doctor to Canada who ends up having to take a job as a as a medical assistant or driving a taxi or teaching or is not working as a doctor as their profession is. That's not just one less Doctor we have that we obviously need within our country. But that's one less doctor in Syria, one less doctor in the world. We have because of our system because of our feeling to give you the opportunities removed some valuable person who would be contributing to whatever society they happen to be in. So we have to fix that and shorten the time in the transition. At the same time however, one of the great things about Canada is if you go in and see a doctor it doesn't matter what they look like doesn't matter what their accent is doesn't matter what their story is. You know they're going to give you great medical service, so we do have to make sure that you that you are re-qualifying and demonstrating which doesn't seem like it will be any difficulty in your case that you reach the standard that the Canadians expect in their health care.

JEFF DOUGLAS; Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau speaking with Metro Morning host Matt Galloway, and Vanig Garabedian. Dr. Garabedian arrived in Canada with his family as refugees from Syria one year ago.

[Music: Ambient]

Pizzagate

Guest: Sharif Silmi

JEFF DOUGLAS: Yesterday, a man from North Carolina walked into a pizza place in Washington, D.C. He had an assault rifle, he allegedly pointed it at an employee and according to police he said he was there to investigate. Pizzagate, Pizzagate is frankly an utterly ludicrous conspiracy theory that involves a child sex ring and the Democrats and a pizza joint called Comet Ping Pong. Sharif Silmi was with his family at Comet Ping Pong when the gunman walked in. We reached Mr. Silmi in Washington.

CAROL OFF: Sharif, what happened yesterday when you went for a meal at Comet Ping Pong?

SHARIF SILMI: Well we were at the Comet Ping Pong. It's a wonderful place here in Washington. We were there enjoying a pizza with my family, myself, my wife my three children and we had our meal and we moved to the middle area of the restaurant where they have some ping pong tables and table tennis and foosball tables. And I was in a middle of a game with my wife playing table tennis when the person that was armed who walked in and walked straight behind me past us and into the back room of the restaurant. I initially thought that it was a security guard a staff member because we were aware of somewhat controversy around the place. And then a staff member from the restaurant came and kind of let us know in a low voice that hey we need to get out of here. This is a real you know gunman situation.

CO: Was there any shooting?

SS: I didn't hear any gunshots. There are some reports that came after. So we left very swiftly out of the restaurant. We were the last to leave from the customers because like I said we're in the middle to back section playing ping pong. And so everybody kind of left there was not much chaos or anything. It was a very swift, smooth exit out of the restaurant onto the sidewalk. And then we proceeded to cross the street where one of the neighborhood businesses opened their doors and grabbed us and pulled us from the sidewalk into their place.

CO: Now the police say that this man who was armed with an assault rifle on AR 15. He told them that he was there to self-investigate Pizzagate. As far as you understand what is Pizzagate?

SS: Basically it's a conspiracy theory propped up by certain elements. And the United States among them Alex Jones the host of the Infowars show and I messaged out that I hold Alex Jones to be partly responsible for this because he's fanning the flames and pouring fuel on the fire of the sort of hysteria and ridiculous notions that are out there. And I actually spoke with Mr. Jones today directly and I made that message to him.

CO: Canadians may not know anything about this. Briefly what is the conspiracy and how is it linked to this restaurant?

SS: There apparently is a notion that there is some sort of pedophilia ring that's taking place at this restaurant, which is totally ridiculous and bogus. Somehow they've connected it through these leaked e-mails of John Podesta, but there's absolutely no truth to it from what any objective observer has been able to look at and determine.

CO: Now John Podesta of course, is an aide to Hillary Clinton and this conspiracy is that the Clintons’ and their aides are involved in this some kind of a huge pedophilia ring that this restaurant is at the center of it. There are basements and tunnels where they hide and torture kids and throughout the neighborhood.

SS: Just to be clear, I mean there was even published drawings of the building from you know architects or from official reports that came out demonstrating that the place doesn’t even have a basement.

CO: Now but Alex Jones, the man who is among many who are putting this out and publishing it and there are just millions of people reading this false news story. What did Alex Jones say when you when you called him — when you talked to him?

SS: He reached out to me because I sent the message to say that I felt that he was responsible for putting my family in danger. And you know we had a conversation we spoke on his radio show in fact, and I told him straight up Adie's that back off Comet Ping Pong. And he has since changed his tune after the gunman came in. He put out a video to say that this is a mainstream media distraction that we're focusing on Comet Ping Pong. But like I explained to him he has videos on his website that talk specifically about Comet Ping Pong he tweeted about quote unquote, “Pizzagate” and he is in fact, the one that has been propagating these lies and you know innuendo regarding Pizzagate.

CO: And that's his role in it. But there are some very big people involved in spreading this story this fabricated story the pedophile ring and the Clintons’ I mean even General Mike Flynn, who Mr. Trump has chosen him to be his national security adviser. He's tweeted a link to the fake news story about the Clintons’ and pedophilia. So why do you think so many people are involved in trying to put this story out?

SS: Well, I think it was a political issue at first, but like I said then and I'll say again I don't care about Hillary Clinton or John Podesta. Those are people that are public figures that put themselves out for political reasons. So those people can defend themselves. What I'm worried about, what I'm concerned with are when communities are targeted when waiters and waitresses are a target is being placed upon them. When my family is put in danger by folks that are targeting institutions that are there for the community, so when you talk about specific places and place a target on them that's much different than going after a political figure like Hillary Clinton.

CO: How have you been able to explain all this to your kids who are with you?

SS: My kids were very you know strong about it we’re Muslim-Americans. And because of all the hysteria that's out in the media and demonization of Muslims, we already have conversations with them that look you know there might be some crazy individual that you know you know that your mom at a supermarket because she is wearing a hijab or you know there might be certain scenarios that take place, but we have to be strong and we have to be proud of who we are. And we belong here and we're going to remain here. And that's what we tell them, they took it in stride. I mean they were very strong about it in fact, after leaving the pizzeria we were bunkered down about for about an hour and a half across the street. And then finally the police cleared the area and we got her car and left. I told them Hey you guys want to go home you want to go see a movie and they're like hey let's go see a movie and they're fine today one of my daughters said she just wasn't feeling good and didn't want to go to school. So you know she actually came with me to the office and she is totally fine and in fact told me a little while ago that she'd go back.

CO: To Comet Ping Pong?

SS: That's correct.

CAROL OFF: Sharif, thank you.

SHARIF SILMI: Thank you so much.

JEFF DOUGLAS: Sharif Silmi was with his family at Comet Ping Pong yesterday, when a gunman walked in. Police say the gunmen claim to be investigating Pizzagate. We reached Mr. Silmi in Washington, D.C.

[Music: Easy listening]

Isac Newton book

JEFF DOUGLAS: So you need a copy of Sir Isaac Newton's pioneering work of physics and astronomy — best known as the Principia for short. It's easy enough to come by, right now you can get a paperback edition online for about 20 Canadian bucks kicks off with Newton's Three Laws of Motion then applies those laws to stuff like gravitation, how it works in the solar system. It's pretty mind blowing. Albert Einstein said it was quote, “perhaps the greatest intellectual stride that it has ever been granted to any man to make.” So that's a pretty good blurb and like I say it's like it's 20 bucks. Of course, you could go hardcover right. That's going to run you about 30 bucks. Or you could get an even cooler edition. I guess you could say maybe a deluxe editon. The cover is decorated goatskin. It's not in pristine shape though it's some minor scuffs. That one’s going to run you upwards of a million bucks. The thing about that one though is that it's old it's really old and it is and extremely rare first edition. It was printed in 1687 and the printing was paid for by the guy who edited it. Guy named Edmond Halley apparently also bought a comet or something. Anyway on the 14th of this month this old Principia is going up for auction at Christie's in New York. Now the price is listed at a million to a million-and-a-half bucks, but someone's going to pay more than that because the last time an old Principia went up for auction the list price was six hundred thousand grand and it went for two-and-a-half million grand. Whatever, so if you want to decorate a goatskin by all means go for it. But I'm tellin ya, you can get it cheaper online. Twenty bucks you'll feel less guilty about using the highlighter FYI.

Part 3: Fake US embassy, architecture award, biggest toothpick

Fake US embassy

JEFF DOUGLAS: Something didn't look quite right about the U.S. embassy in the capital city of Ghana. In fact, almost nothing about it looked right. And in fact, nothing about it was right. But for 10 years despite its dubious appearance that fake embassy in Accra, handed out travel visas to the U.S. That is according to the U.S. State Department. In a statement the agency blamed organized crime rings for the sham operation and it says that it has been shut down. One problem however, remains the embassy may have been fake. The visas were real and people were paying thousands of dollars to obtain them. Emmanuel K. Dogbevi is a journalist in Ghana. He was the first to report on this story. He is the managing editor of www.GahannaBusinessNews.com. We reached Mr. Dogbevi in Accra.

CAROL OFF: Emmanuel, this fake U.S. embassy was actually a physical place. Can you tell us what it looked like?

CO:

Now but there is a real U.S. embassy in Accra. So how does it compare? Do you think with the actual one for Ghana?

ED:

(Laughs) hahaha, you should see the U.S. embassy in Accra. It's a huge beautiful magnificent building. Very well secured, you know it's really high, thick walls thick exterior, and very well-organized interior. So it's very highly secured area, you just can't walk into the U.S. embassy in Accra.

CO:

So anyone who is going to have fake U.S. Embassy to get a visa they would know that they were not at the real deal?

ED:

Well, they were not sending all the visitors into the building. As the report said, they targeted people outside Ghana people in say Togo, which is on the border with Ghana and Ivory Coast, which is on the western border with Ghana. And these people might not know where the embassy is and they do not offer walk in services you know, so they bring these people into the country and then they put them in a hotel. And that is somebody who does this transaction for them.

CO: What did people actually get from this facility? Did they get a real document, a real visa to the United States?

ED: Surprisingly, they were getting general U.S. visas and that is what has surprised everybody. I have traveled to the U.S. twice and I know what it takes to get a U.S. visa. It's not that simple. But how are these people able to get visas to their clients. The assumption we can you know make is that they have an insider in the embassy.

CO: In the real embassy?

ED: In the real embassy who are facilitating this process.

CO: But what would it cost people? How much how much were people paying for these visas that they got at this fake embassy?

ED: According to the report, they were paying $6000.

CO: That's a lot of money.

ED: That’s a lot of money. And officially you don't pay even up to $200 for a standard visitor visa to the U.S. I think it’s around $190, or probably a little over $300. So for someone to pay $6000 it's pretty much a very high sum. But that also means that these people had to bribe other people to do the process for them. So they take all these large amounts of money and they have to spread it around because they have to be people in the security services they have to probably. I'm not too sure. But the indications are that there is certainly somebody or some people in the embassy that the pay some of these money to who sees to it that they get this general visas for their clients.

CO: And who is making money from this? Who is running this operation in Ghana?

ED: According to the reports there were Turkish citizens. There were some Ghanaians and the front man was an immigration lawyer, who is also a practicing criminal law.

CO: Now I guess this kind of a scam is not unusual. We know that these kinds of operations, these criminal rings operate around the world. What's so astonishing about this story is that this office was running for 10 years and no one seemed to know it was happening?

ED: I am still trying really hard to recover from that reality. How did they do that? I could make some assumptions. One you have very well-connected people politically very well connected with the security law enforcement agencies maybe top people in the law enforcement agencies. They make so much money they are able to bribe everybody if they are still able to provide you know issue visas to ten people in the month that’s $60,000 U.S. dollars. That's enough money to bribe as many people as you can. So these are the factors that explain why the money to stay in business for this long.

CO: Do you have any idea who may have been buying these visas?

ED: Well, there are a lot of desperate people in Guyana who believe that the grass is greener in America and they will do anything to get a visa and get out of the country. But looking at the amount of money these people are charging $6000 I can only assume that's more likely the human traffickers might be involved. Human traffickers make tons of money — huge sums of money. And that records show that about a hundred and fifty billion dollars is made every year by human traffickers.

CO: And do you expect to be. I know you've been covering a bit of this in your publication but are you expecting to see some changes of staff in the real U.S. embassy in Ghana?

ED: (Laughs) I wouldn't be surprised if some people are removed from the U.S. embassy if this can be traced to them once the investigation is done. So what we're hoping is if they are able to trace whoever the insider is or who the insiders are they would just simply record them and I don't know they probably will fire them.

CAROL OFF: Emmanuel, we'll leave it there and I appreciate you telling us this story. It is quite extraordinary. Thank you.

EMMANUEL K. DOGBEVI: Thank you very much.

JEFF DOUGLAS: Emmanuel K. Dogbevi is the managing editor of www.GahannaBusinessNews.com. We reached him in Ghana's capital, Accra.

[Music: Blues]

Architecture award

Guest: Sylvia McAdam

JEFF DOUGLAS: Every year, UBC’s School of Architecture gives $50,000 to someone who is dedicated to making Canada a better place. The winner is often an architect. Yes, sometimes an engineer. But this year the winner of the Margolese National Design for Living Prize is neither of those things. While she does run housing projects for others, she does not have her own home. Sylvia McAdam is one of the founders of Idle No More. We reached Ms. McAdam at the Big River First Nation, in Saskatchewan.

CAROL OFF: Sylvia, a big congratulations to you.

SYLVIA MCADAM: Thank you.

CO: How did you find out that you were in the running for this award?

SM: I didn't. It was an absolute, incredible surprise. They tracked me down through my publisher. And they gave me a call.

CO: And what did they tell you had won the award for?

SM: Apparently it's for my work in the community and also for the One House Many Nation's campaign and for our work with Idle No More.

CO: And so when you were told that you don't even know you're running for an award that is worth fifty thousand dollars. They call you and tell you run it. How did you react?

SM: I was in disbelief. There was a second where I thought OK this has to be a prank call or something. But it was real. After I the disbelief subsided, I was shocked and humbled and so grateful because I'm homeless.

CO: And so this $50,000 represents quite a lot for you doesn't it?

SM: It does. It does. I'm going to get myself a mini home. I finally have a home, which is just an incredible feeling for me because I left a very violent relationship and I left a home behind and I had to raise my children through rental properties. And so this is a dream come true.

CO: You have seven children?

SM: I do. They're all grown up and doing their own things. And so I have grandchildren now that will enjoy the mini home with me.

CO: It's extraordinary just that part of it. But I want to talk about what you did to earn this award and the news release from University of British Columbia says this award goes to a Canadian who has made and continues to make outstanding contributions to the development or improvement of living environments for Canadians of all economic classes. And the award usually goes to architects or engineers. It's from that department of the university but they chose you. Tell us a bit about the work that you do?

SM: I think they understood as well that I am identifying it as an [unintelligible] citizen foremost. And I think when we talk about nation-to-nations this is part of that recognition that I am [unintelligible] and I am from the [unintelligible] nation and that it's absolutely possible for everyday people to make a difference. We don't need to be skilled like architects. Those are necessary. I’m not saying they're not, but we're all valuable and we're all capable of you know making changes.

CO: The UBC points out there's one project it's called One House Many Nations. Can you tell us what that is?

SM: Through Idle No More’s communications team it consists of very skilled and just an amazing group of people. We decided that we need to bring the discussion and awareness about alternative energy and alternative housing into the dialogue of Canadian and Indigenous peoples housing forum and platform. So instead of just talking about and seeing it and showing that it's absolutely possible I think is what gave it a powerful and a very real action.

CO: You built you were a part of a group that built a self-sustaining mini home for a homeless man on your reserve can you tell us about that?

SM: Yeah. He wants his name to be confidential so we need to respect that. However, he has children that are grown up and they do visit him now at his shelter. But he is the image of such a big issue and he is representative of even myself being homeless that even everyday people can be a part of bringing the possibility of addressing homelessness in a way that talks about alternative energy talks about sustainability. The woodstove that is in the money home is capable of generating electricity and it has a composting toilet. You know these are the kind of things that I am going to put in my mini home and in places like in a rural location and Indigenous communities the sort of things are absolutely possible to bring into communities. And I think when you look at the Margolese Prize most of the dialogue was in urban settings and to have sustainable housing in rural communities to mitigate climate change is a huge and powerful moment.

CO: And you know you're going to build your own mini home, but are there plans to build more of these for people in your community?

SM: I hope so. If we are going to talk about alternative energy, alternative housing we need to demonstrate that it's absolutely possible. That we don't need to wait for someone else to do it like the government and different organizations and especially now with the pipeline approvals we’re seemingly locked in to a fossil fuel future and that really concerns me it truly does. So the work of Idle No More and One House Many Nations becomes all the more important and critical.

CO: And when is the awards night?

SM: It'll be in March. We haven't nailed down the date yet.

CAROL OFF: Well I hope that that's a great night for you Sylvia, and again big congratulations to you.

SYLVIA MCADAM: Well thank you. I appreciate the call.

JEFF DOUGLAS: Sylvia McAdam has been awarded UBC Margolese National Design for Living Prize. We reached Ms. McAdam at the Big River First Nation, in Saskatchewan.

[Music: Ambient]

Biggest toothpick

Guest: Claes Blixt

JEFF DOUGLAS: It can sometimes seem like all the “biggests” have been taken. Here in Canada for instance, Sudbury has the biggest coin — the Big Nickel. Golden, Alberta has the world's largest paddle and Vegreville, Alberta has the world's largest Ukrainian Easter egg. So that left Claes Blixt of Sweden in a bit of a quandary. What biggest thing was left? But Mr. Blixt did not surrender and now he is finally built the world's biggest something. We reached him in Uddebo, Sweden.

CAROL OFF: Claes, you have created the world's biggest what?

CLAES BLIXT: I have tried to create the biggest toothpick in the world. Yes that's true, yes.

CO: A toothpick?

CB: Yeah, a toothpick. Yes yes.

CO: How big is your toothpick?

CB: It's more than a half a meter, which is like it's like a big and very sharp thing. It has two sharp ends and it's a beautiful size on it and it's just big. It's like an arm.

CO: (Laughs) and so a toothpick the size of an arm it does it even work?

CB: Yes of course it works. I tried it already because I used to sit with you know all the records. It's had a history of myself. I made the biggest butter knife in the world because I'm a woodworking teacher, so I made a lot of butter knives. I also make the biggest pack of cards in the world because I usually sit in the morning and play cards before I go to school and now I made the biggest toothpick hopefully. And so I tried it and it works, but it's very hard because you really have to take care of yourself if you use it.

CO: (Laughs) why have you made the world's biggest toothpick?

CB: Well, it's a long story, but if I take it short there has been so much talk about the election in America about you know who's going to be the next president. And I have so many stupid things coming out from Mr. Trump's mouth. So I had a discussion in school with my students and we had a good laugh and I said OK let's make a record and build the biggest toothpick in the world and send it to Mr. Trump because you know just as a symbol you know? And it's all started with that.

CO: So this is a toothpick designed for somebody who has a big mouth?

CB: Exactly. Yes. And it's really because it's so big that too big so you really have a big mouth to use it.

CO: And so do you think that Mr. Trump would use it if you sent it to him?

CB: Probably he'd just it just sell it and make the money off it. And that’s the problem, hopefully I think it just starts to think a little bit about what he is saying next and you know if some as we say hopefully no more no more frogs is coming out from his mouth. Yeah I don't know what it's going to think. I think it's nice because I'm going to sell it and all my money all my money I make on it. You know give it to charity. So I don't think here I've never done that so I do that with a toothpick.

CO: All right. So no one does it with you. Always the biggest, why don't you make something the smallest here?

CB: That's true. You know I'm becoming older and older. I don't I don't see so much anymore. That's the problem. So doing small things is not that easy anymore, but making big things is. It's nice and it's also very funny to see big things, I like big things so. So just like it has lots of humor. People are starting laughing and especially children because children are so fun and when they see big things they start to laugh. And I also give them the possibility to realize that you know you going to really make things big things or you can make things that never no one else had been doing before. So I think that's nice.

CO: Now I understand you also have a coffin in your living room?

CB: Yes, I have many strange things in my house. I live in an old church with my beautiful wife and I have a coffin and yes I built it to myself because I'm usually building you know Inuit kayaks, which are just like the shape of a body. And so many people nearly got dead when they try Inuit kayaks. So I thought maybe I should you know build a coffin instead. So I had I had of course there were like 20 people coming to my place and we were building you know our own coffin. And it was like a big thing in Sweden because the television and the radio was here and they thought we were a sect or something, but we just had a good laugh and enjoyed life and talking a lot about the life in dead. Which I think is good.

CO: And this is and this is instead of you said you are making kayaks and then you made the coffin?

CB: Yes exactly. And everything you know in Sweden there is a monopoly about the coffin so, but there is the possibility to make it yourself. So I have it here at home and it's really a beautiful coffin. So it's a bit thin. So I have to train a lot. But yeah and that's maybe good.

CO: OK. To train you mean in order to get in? It’s too narrow?

CB: Exactly, I have to be thin. Yes I have to train. I can't get so fat. So that's good it’s a reminder to me about go out and running nearly every week.

CO: So what does this wife of yours think of this? Does she like it that you like to make big things?

CB: Yes she is. She's like a chief. She is a chief of many therapists and she is working in psychiatry and so she's used to like weird people. And I'm more like a like an old child doing strange stuff. And she just had a good laugh and she just looked at me and smiled sometimes. OK. That's oh that's a new thing. She usually says oh that's a new thing. So I think she enjoys it. Yeah I think hopefully.

CO: Hopefully. Otherwise you're going to have a lot of problems with your making big things.

CB: No no no no, but you know she can be married to bored people, who just stay at home and work all day. But I try to do a lot of other things all the time. So I think she enjoy it.

CAROL OFF: Claes, it’s good to speak with you. Thanks.

CLAES BLIXT: Yes thank you.

JEFF DOUGLAS: Claes Blixt has built what he believes to be the world's largest toothpick. We reached him in Uddebo, Sweden.

[Music: Cultural]

Bob Dylan

JEFF DOUGLAS: As Bob Dylan sings in “All Along the Watchtower.” There's too much confusion. I can't get no relief. And ever since Mr Dylan won the Nobel Prize in Literature, confusion has indeed rained and relief has indeed been scant. But now we know a couple of things for sure. One Bob Dylan himself will not be in Stockholm on Saturday to accept the prize too. He has written a speech which will be read in Stockholm by someone else. Three we don't know who the someone else will be, but four one of the songs that won him the prize will be performed by Patti Smith. Miss Smith was already scheduled to play as part of something called the Nobel Week Dialogue and now, instead of singing one of her own songs, she will do her version of Dylan's “A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall” with Sweden's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. And Patti Smith will also speak about the importance of role models, Bob Dylan being one. She spoke to Rolling Stone about the Nobel gig and the Nobel laureate. She said quote, “his influence has been broad and I owe him a great debt for that. I had not anticipated singing a Bob Dylan song on December 10^th, but I am very proud to be doing so and will approach the task with a sense of gratitude for having him as our distant, but present cultural shepherd.” Those are certainly more generous than the remarks from one member of the Nobel committee after they waited two weeks for Mr Dylan to return their phone calls about the prize. He called Bob Dylan quote, “impolite and arrogant.”

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Dec. 5, 2016 transcript

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