Toronto's Gun Violence

When is everyone going to wake up? The rash of violence in Toronto this summer, and particularly this Boxing Day, is the result of the "poor, black kids" that are running rampant in the neighborhoods calling the city its own.
Not only do we NOT have the justice system in place to deal with these "misguided youth", but we fail to see that the problem is specific to a portion of the population.

I would love to see mandatory jail time of 10 years for ANY gun offence. I would also like to see any landed immigrants or new citizens lose their rights in this country for any crime. It would also be nice to see curfews in those areas that are hot spots, and take the violence off the street.

As soon as we decide to take the city and country back from these expats from other countries, the better off we will be. Let's send a message to the rest of the world that Canada does not tolerate this crap, and we will punish to the full extent of the law. Living here is a privilege, not a right, and the sooner that these people coming off the boats realize this, the better off the rest of the law abiding Canadians will be.

Middle East Glory Seekers...Is 15 Minutes of Fame Worth It?

It boggles my mind to see so many stories of hostage taking in the Middle East. When are people going to realize that the Middle East is dangerous, and the occupants are animals? I have no sympathy for anyone that goes on a "humanitarian" mission, only to disregard occupational forces recommendations that they shouldn't be travelling in and around dangerous areas of the countries involved. The latest from the Brit gal kidnapped, is that when she got back home, she plans on heading to Gaza...what is with these people?

I have no time or sympathy for anyone that gets captured or kidnapped in these countries that are unstable at best...I think they should all be candidates for Darwin Awards.

Bah, Humbug!

Even I can't be too harsh on Christmas...Merry Christmas everyone, and a Happy New Year!

Last Minute Christmas Gift for your Girlfriend...

Iraqi Insurgent Training

Check out the link below at Google videos;

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7561220995233522701

Why it takes Bush so long to crush them is beyond me...

Weenie of the Week - Stephen Harper

I don't know what it is, besides not having a platform, and looking "short bus" special, but I just don't like him...what comes out of his mouth these days is even worse.

Congrats for being the Weenie of the Week.....AGAIN!

#1 on My Christmas List....Please Santa????

All I want is the new Haitian IPod, Santa...



My Haitian friend signed up for one of those "free IPod" offers...

Supreme Court and Swingers Clubs - the Decline of Morality

Well, the Supreme Court has ruled that swingers clubs don't harm society. What a blow to monogamous values that is.

As a guy, I enjoy sex just as much as anyone, but I find it difficult to accept the practice of "swapping", or even partaking in such an intimate moment while being watched. There is nothing more I would like than to have a monogamous relationship with someone (definitely a female), without the fear of wondering if I am the only one. Decency, trust, and integrity in a relationship means being true to one person. With the floodgates open, the morals and values that we expect to have as human beings are thrown out the window. Having "lost" my wife to an extra-marital affair, only fuels my belief on what is "truly right" - one for one.

To counter the ruling, I hope someone in their right mind sees how this can now open the doors to more marital breakdowns, and the loss of assets to lawyers and everyone else who has their hand in the pot for your equity, during split ups. Legislation in place to reduce the split of personal property, or allowing "at fault" divorce, will certainly ensure that anyone that wants to play with matches with another man or woman while being involved, will understand the price they may pay. Making it "legal", only compounds the social problems already attributed to relationship breakdowns.

Because of the court's ruling, its going to be very difficult down the road to explain to my kids that being monogamous with someone is the best way to gain trust and integrity with someone you love and to spend the rest of your life with. As for me, this does not give me the warm, fuzzy feeling that I will be able to find someone as committed to me as I would be to them.

All you swingers out there, enjoy the ruling - and don't cry to the government or the judicial system about fairness when your better half doesn't agree with your lifestyle, and it costs you to "swap".

Responsible Senior Management

Reading the news on CBC.ca, its interesting to note that the chairman of the Tokyo Stock Exchange has resigned, to "clarify management's responsibility" for computer glitches.

Wouldn't it be nice if our government and western corporate management thought the same way?

There are a few people that should read the article and take it to heart...CEOs, Prime Ministers, and even Presidents.

King Kong a Flop?

Movie moguls aren't as happy with the $50 million opening weekend of KK...seems that $60 million is what they expected, to be considered a "blockbuster weekend".

Wonder how much they have to make to pay for the bananas?

Computer Emotion Decoders

Interesting stuff from CNN.com Technology;

Computer decodes Mona Lisa's smile
Friday, December 16, 2005; Posted: 2:17 p.m. EST (19:17 GMT)

(CNN) -- Scientists analyzed the portrait of the Mona Lisa, a woman with famously mixed emotions, hoping to unlock her smile. They applied emotion recognition software that measures a person's mood by examining features such as the curve of the lips and the crinkles around the eyes.
The findings? Mona Lisa was 83 percent happy, 9 percent disgusted, 6 percent fearful, and 2 percent angry, according to the British weekly "New Scientist."
Still, scientists will probably never know what made her feel the way she did.

Well, I want to contribute to this study - my ex can be used to calibrate 100% bitch...Mona is 83% happy because she only got the house, and not the olive grove.

Say it Ain't So....

Headline from CNN.com;

Report: Cell phone talking while driving on the rise
Friday, December 16, 2005; Posted: 10:30 a.m. EST (15:30 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- More people than ever are turning their cars into personal phone booths, with a million and a half drivers gabbing on cell phones at any given time. Women and young people are the most common yakkers.

Women? Yakkers?? Noooooooooooooo...lol

Solution to Healthcare Wait Times?

It was interesting to read that Alberta had a "pilot" project to work on reducing wait times for hip and knee surgeries.

Funny how being efficient in their work, actually provides us with what we need. Go figure. Maybe if the healthcare sector did what they were being paid for, we would all be better off.

The big conclusion so far?

"Final results will be released next spring. Provincial officials say breast and prostate cancer patients might also benefit from a similar diagnostic and treatment system.

I thought thats what their job was???? I guess diagnosing and treating efficiently is a new concept. Dumbasses.

Unpolitically Correct Joke

Came across this joke...no commentary needed...lol

A Somali arrives in Toronto, a new immigrant to Canada. He stops the first person he sees walking down the street and says, "Thank you Mr. Canadian for letting me in this Country!" But the passer-by says "You are mistaken, I am Jamaican". The man goes on and encounters another passer-by. "Thank you for having such a beautiful country here in Canada!" The person says "I no Canadian, I Vietnamese." The new arrival walks further, and the next person he sees he stops, shakes his hand and says "Thank you for the wonderful Canada!" That person puts up his hand and says "I am from Middle East, I am not a Canadian!" He finally sees a nice lady and asks suspiciously, "Are you a Canadian?" She says, "No, I am from Russia!" So he is puzzled, and asks her, "Where are all the Canadians?" The Russian lady looks at her watch, shrugs, and says... "Probably at work."

Check Nestle's Accounting too

A little light-heartedness this time of year...the article below is courtesy of CBC;

Math class proves Smarties fun fact isn't true
Last Updated Fri, 16 Dec 2005 16:18:40 EST
CBC News

Canadians eat enough Smarties each year to circle the Earth 350 times, or so claims one of the fun facts on the package. This bit of trivia got a teacher in Thunder Bay, Ont., thinking. And she had her Grade 6 math class crunch the numbers.

The result: Nestlé Canada, maker of Smarties, gets failing grades in arithmetic and responsiveness. The students started with the number of the candy-coated chocolate spheroids Nestlé said Canadians eat annually: Four billion. Then they took the size of a single Smartie and worked out how many it would take to form a 40,000-kilometre necklace around the planet.
That's when they figured out that something was wrong. Four billion Smarties would go around the world just once. "We broke it down from centimetres to metres and then kilometres," student Caitlin Henderson says, "and it was 114 kilometres that Nestlé suggested the circumference of the Earth might be." To make the company's claim true, each Smartie would have to be bigger. "Three and a half metres," says student Kaylie Rankin. "It's about the size of our chalkboard. I don't know if I'd be able to eat it." Teacher Tanja Coghill says it took three letters to get Nestlé officials to admit their mistake, but it was important for the students to get that acknowledgement. "We can make a difference," she says. "We're a little class of 10 students in Grade 6 in Thunder Bay, Ont., and you can make a difference with a huge multinational company."

A Nestlé spokesman says the packaging will be changed next year

NSA and Wiretaps

Seems to be lots of hulabaloo these days with Bush approving the NSA to do wiretaps. What's the big deal? I say whoever disagrees with it, must have something to hide. Times are changing, and if it takes the government eavesdropping on people to make things better for the rest of us, then I say go for it.
Suck it up people, and get used to the way things have to be. Remember, anything you type on the computer, cell phone conversations, or even your home cordless phone, is sending out signals that can be picked up by anyone...so why not the government if it makes life safer?

Get a life, and find something else to bitch about. Any one of you crying foul would welcome the wiretapping if it would have saved a loved one from a terrorist act. Give the government credit for being proactive. I only hope that Canada institutes the same here, so we can all breathe easier.

It's Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays

With all the politically correctness, it seems that we have gone overboard and can't even recognize Christmas anymore. Let's call it what it is...it's Christmas, plain and simple. There is a site that has had lots of attention these days...check it out.

To all the readers out there that are tired of being politcally correct;

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES, AND A SAFE AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

Miami Airport Safety - Good Job, Marshals!

I thought it was interesting to read about the guy that got shot for claiming to have a bomb in his suitcase, and was gunned down by air marshals. What's the problem with people that think a terrible injustice has been done?
I think anyone that puts people at risk, like that looney did, deserves to be shot. And what does the guy's wife say? He forgot his medicine because he was bipolar. Well, if the marshals hadn't done that, and he did have a bomb and blow the plane up, would someone still have said that he was bipolar and forgot his medication? I think not.
As far as I am concerned, he got what he deserved. Maybe people will think twice about what they say or how they act at the airport...lets all learn from this, that endangering others is not a joke, and it shouldn't be tolerated by anyone. If someone needs to be shot to make a point, so be it. I would rather read about one guy being shot in an incident like this, than to read about a plane that went down, killing everyone on board because of a whack job off his meds.

Keep up the good work, marshals!

Richard Pryor - Rest In Peace

Sad day today, with the passing of Richard Pryor, one of the icons of comedy in the last 50 years. My most memorable moment of Richard's career, is the scene in the movies where he is trying to teach Gene Wilder to be a "nigga'"...classic comedy, before we had to be politically correct.
RIP, Richard, and I hope Gene is taking it well...that's two great comedian friends he has lost, that were closest to him...the other, Gilda Radner.

Weenie of the Week - Jack Layton

Well, I'm not surprised that early on in the election, that the party leaders are always up there in contention for Weenie of the Week. This week, is Mr. Jack Layton. This entry is going to paraphrase a conversation Mr. Layton had with a local radio personality on a Toronto talk radio show very recently. Basically, the question asked of Mr. Layton, was, would he seek private medical care/help for his wife, if the public health system could not meet his wife's needs in a timely manner...what does Mr. Layton say? That he and his wife (Olivia Chow - also an NDP candidate running in Toronto) have discussed this issue, and both of them want to put their life into the hands of the public health system.
Oh, boy...when questioned further, Mr. Layton insisted that he would check his wife into the public health system and let it do the rest, or all it could for his wife.

Wow...how many of you guys out there would end up giving half of everything to your soon-to-be ex-wife as she walked out the door, screaming at you that you don't care?

All I can say is, true love for Mr. Layton is not having to say "I tried" if your wife is on her deathbed...an outright, bold-faced lie should wake Olivia up, after those comments were made on the radio.

If he will outright lie about how he would handle healthcare with his wife, how easy will it be for him to lie to the Canadian people?
Sometimes they should just keep their mouths shut.
Congratulations on your Weenie of the Week, Jack, and for securing a "for sure" loss for the NDP!

Stephen Harper - Liberal in Disguise

I can't help but comment on Harper's tax proposals IF he were to be elected. The big spender, who has been criticizing the Liberal government on their platforms is merely throwing tidbits out to the people, which is really what the Liberal government may have come out with over the next 5 years to reduce the surplus.
1) Reducing GST - a huge change from 7% to 5% over 5 years...big deal. Even after the Liberals proposal to reduce income taxes as an alternative to the Conservatives, 5 years from now is a long way, so who is to say that the Liberals wouldn't do that down the road to gain popularity after getting elected to a minority government Jan 23? Not original enough, nor Conservative for me, Mr. Harper.
2) Reducing small business income tax from 12% to 11% over 5 years - hmmm...same can be said with this tax reform. What gets me is, is that the Conservatives harp on doing something with the surplus, but throw these tidbits out?
Bottomline is, the Conservatives still don't have a solid platform to gain voter share, to really make a difference if they were to be elected. Not only are the tax reform proposals empty, they do nothing to stimulate the economy and make things any easier for where its needed most - the poor and middle class.
You might as well run as a Liberal - you are merely pointing things out the people would eventually see with a Liberal minority.

Latest Hostage Taking - Serves Them Right

Late last week, 4 people were taken hostage in Iraq. Big surprise? No...after being warned about travelling in the country without security, and in some cases having abandoned embassies in a place that is a war zone, anyone that walks into it deserves anything that comes out of it. When will people listen? There is a reason why the respective governments have said to stay out, but that doesn't seem to be good enough for a few individuals that think they can become martyrs in their own right, to somehow make a statement to the rest of the world. Well, you 4 did make a statement...not only did you confirm that Iraq is a dangerous place to be right now, but you also confirmed how stupid you really are.
Leave the humanitarian aid to the professionals, and heed advice of governments if they say its not safe. All you do is propagate the terrorism ideals by leaving yourself wide open for kidnapping and other violence.

Black - Special People get Special Rules

I had to laugh this week, watching the escapades around Baron Black and his arrangements to get to an arraignment hearing in Chicago. Him and his deputies seem to be able to do what they want, and set the time and date of the hearings at their whim. How many of us normal folk would get to pick and choose our dates so its convenient for us?? Not many...

I am sure he will look good in the orange jumpsuit for a few years, with an extended stay at Club Fed.

Weenies of the Week - Major Party Leaders

With the election call this week, of course I had no choice but to include all the leaders...they have all had their moment this week, so for them, and the joy we get laughing at them for being the Weenies of the Week, I present to you;

1. Gilles Duceppe

The first recipient this week, Gilles, gets one for his inane thoughts and idea to have Quebec submit its own Olympic hockey team....sheesh...what an ass. I tell you, if there was a line up to dig Quebec out of Canada and put a moat around it, I would be the first one in line.
And Mr. Duceppe...when you do leave Canada, take your debt with you, but leave the natural resources.

2. Stephen Harper

Mr. Harper gets yet another Weenie award this week, for his latest platform, of suggesting that we would all be better off if the GST was reduced 2% over the next 5 years...give your head a shake. I want to notice when I get my taxes reduced. What you are offering Mr. Harper, is the equivalent of the "need a penny, take a penny" tray at the 7-11. And I don't use it either, by the way...


3. Jack Layton


Well, if I had to rate the weenies this week, he would be ranked the lowest, only because he hasn't said much over the last few days, from what I heard. He did say, and perhaps too much, was that "the NDP just needs more MPs". Good one. Another comment - anyone realize that the UAW is not supporting the "peoples party"?...that says it all.

4. Paul Martin


Well, with Paul Martin, what can I say. He is putting the right things on the table for the election, in the way of tax cuts. I am sure there will be lots of times over the course of the next few weeks that he will screw up bad. So far, he has my vote, and that has to say something given that I am a Conservative.


So, congrats to the Weenies of the Week...make me proud in the weeks ahead to show me that you really deserved the award.

Homolka, Schomolka...Enough Already

Latest and greatest out of the courts is that Karla is free and clear on her restrictions on her release in July. Well, of course the press or the families can't let go of that, and insist that she is a troublemaker, and will continue to be one.

Here's the deal people...let it go! The prosecution had their chance 12 years ago to lock her away indefinitely, and take away all the rights that they should take from her. Now that there has been a fuck up 12 years ago, everyone is coming down on Karla. Guess what? She upheld her side of the bargain, and the government is now balking on theirs. She did her time, and has paid her debt to society, as deemed by the courts. The families and everyone else should direct their anger and frustration at the government, to make sure it doesn't happen again!

Everyone that is against Karla, look to the government that screwed up the deal in the first place. The fault doesn't lay with Karla, but with the system. For once, I would like to see the government do something as a deterrent, instead of making these kind of deals in the first place. If I was in Karla's shoes, I would go after the government and sue for harassment. Maybe that would teach them a lesson.

I am not a Karla fan, but a deal is a deal...move on and make changes to the CCC to ensure that the rights of victims are protected to the utmost degree in the future. This includes tougher gun laws, and mandatory jail time. Deals that are made, should be conditional pending new evidence. This would have resolved the Karla issue years ago.

Only the voters can make the changes by ensuring that the candidates support tougher measures for the future. The chance to do that will be on Jan 23 2006.

The Campaigning Begins...

Lucky us. We get to elect a new government. While I should probably be glad to have the right to be able to vote for a government, the choices don't do anything for me.
The way I see it, I can't even guess on the lesser of all evils. We are always going to have a minority government, and we are destined to have coalition governments from now on. Gone are the days of majority governments, and we can thank the past governments trying to make everyone happy, for this happening. We are going to continue to elect minority governments, and change them as often as we do our underwear.

The sooner we stop trying to look after everyone's interest, the better. Its getting too expensive to the regular taxpayer to fund all the differences everyone wants. Let the Liberals back in, that way I know I will at least get my refunds due.

Misguided Youth in Toronto

There was an interesting article in the National Post about the high school students that got charged with sexual assault. One of the students says "I really don't understand what happened to me". How pathetic. If the students that got charged are guilty, his statement reflects the values that he has for women, and other people in society. I am sure that with this group of 16 students, this isn't the first time they have been up to no good.
If they guilty, I suggest that the parents also get charged as co-conspirators, since they are the ones that are responsible to instill the proper values into their kids. Problems with troublesome teens is the lack of parenting done these days, and the last few weeks in Toronto with the school sexual assault shows it

Maybe the governments will take heed and look at overhauling the Young Offender's Act.

Weenie of the Week - Conrad Black

It's that time again, where we get another Weenie of the week. Conrad Black, the fallen media mogul of late, deserves more than just the Weenie Award...a nice 6 x 8 cell in Kingston pen for starters.


Conrad, for denouncing your Canadian citizenship, in order to be crowned Baron Black of Crossharbour, and then when you are in deep shit with the US authorities, have the balls to come back and ASK for your citizenship again, you ARE the Weenie of the Week. And I guess that makes Barbara, the Weenette of the Week, for even agreeing to go along with your request...


Go stand up to your obligations for fleecing the shareholders of Hollinger, and take your hits like a man. Non-competition fees...really...I hope the Canadian government ties your nuts in a knot.

Canadian Liberal Government Well-Organized Crime?

Interesting to note, the latest lashes by Harper et al about the sponsorship scandal...the Conservatives made one mistake. They mention that the funneling of millions of taxpayers cash to Liberals was "well-organized crime".
News for you, Conservatives, if it was that well-organized, they wouldn't have been caught!

I can see the mudslinging over Christmas...all the white snow will be defaced with shit and mud from all sides..."I'm dreaming of a brown Christmas!"

8 weeks to go...lets see what else comes up in the fight for governance of this country.

Unions Sealing GM's Fate

With the latest announcement by GM, it looks like 3,900 people will be out of work eventually, over the next 3 years. Granted, most should come from attrition, however, in order to prop up its infrastructure, attrition and buyouts out of expensive contracts is not the answer.
What the union needs to do is to swallow an expensive pill. Take wage, pension, and benefit cuts in order to keep the livlihood of ALL your members in tact. It is far better to have everyone working for less money, then to displace 3,900 people and families.
Tell me, Mr. Hargrove, how many people are going to feel sorry for the workers that are left, making $65-70 an hour? Newest members into the union are already working for less money due to 2-tiered wage system.
It's time for the unions to take ownership, and contribute to saving their livlihood. A 20% reduction in wages and benefits across the board will go along way to saving GM. The only ones complaining of concessions are the ones that know that they are over-compensated already.

GM will bounce back, whether they shed their legacy costs voluntarily, or through bankruptcy...Mr. Hargrove, take the initiative to save whats left for the good of the members that are left.

Those Crazy Frenchmen

It was nice to read that the rioting in France had settled down for a bit, and perhaps MAYBE, starting to get back to normal, until a few government types had something to say as to the reason for the riots...one of the main reasons for the riots, was caused by the polygamous culture of muslims...lol...had to laugh at that one.
Look out Utah...according to the French, you are prone to riots and your cars will burst into flames...

Weenie of the Week - Bill Blair

I am a couple of days late on the Weenie of the Week...better late than never. I don't ever have to worry about finding one, as it seems they all do something stupid that gets them the prize. The latest? Toronto police chief Bill Blair, for his comments at a news conference last Friday, commenting on the fatal shooting of a teen at a funeral...

"We had no intelligence on whether we should have been policing the funeral or not"...what a lame excuse. This is the politically correct answer actually. What he really meant to say was, "We had racially profiled the individuals involved, the deceased at the funeral, and the victim at the church, however, we decided not to act on it, because we would have shunned by the media and the community for profiling the individuals, and making our presence known".

When will the people of Toronto, and other crime infested cities realize that this is now a racial issue, and needs to be followed up? The only ones that cry racism are the ones that have something to hide...well, if you can't see that the problems with the shootings in Toronto this summer is racially motivated, then by all means, Toronto police, pull out and let them take care of their own problems, and maybe by the time they are done, the neighborhoods in the Finch area will be cleaned up.
Let's stop throwing tax dollars at a situation if you won't have the balls to call a spade a spade.

Pension Liability Problems - Not Just a US Problem

The US PBGC (Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.) has issued its annual report, that states that it is short about $22.8 billion in pension liabilities.
This liability grows, as more and more companies declare bankruptcy, and shed their legacy costs.
In Canada, pension liabilities have been building, to the point that the taxpayer will soon be paying the bill (listen up, Stelco...).
How did this happen? Greedy unions, stupid management, and special kudos to the NDP government of the mid 90s that gave pension contribution holidays to a few companies that were considered "too big to fail".
In order for taxpayers to get a break on bailouts like this, companies, unions and government need to look at the following;
1) The government should mandate defined-contribution plans and eliminate defined benefit plans. Unions should look to their membership and realize that defined benefit plans are great at one point, but increasing COLAs (cost of living allowances) on defined benefit plans will only result in doom and gloom in the future. With such lucrative pension benefits, comapnies can't keep up and remain competitive.
2) Pension liabilities should be fully funded. In fact, there should be steep fines for any company that is found to have unfunded liabilities.
3) In order to make defined-contribution plans more palatable to people, the government should remove the mandatory retirement age. I am sure that there will be more income tax to collect from people working past 65, than what the government would get if people started withdrawing from RRSPs or RRIFs.

Retirement with nice pension benefits is a privilege, not a right. As soon as unions, companies and the government realize this, we the taxpayers, can plan accordingly and determine our own financial fate, instead of letting someone else determine it for us.

Canada's Response to Immigrant Smuggling - Not Good Enough

There are a couple of issues that are disturbing about the latest charges against a Chinese man charged with immigrant smuggling (in Halifax).
First off, he is complaining that his human rights are being violated. Second, as an "english speaking" translator for the tour group he was with, he has contributed to his "future" extradition costs, by requiring a Cantonese translator.
WTF, Canada! This country is looking more and more like a sieve, and people from all over the world are coming here expecting a free ride - when does this stop? Canada has bent over backwards enough for immigrants to this country, that by now, we must be the laughing stock of the UN.
If we want to clean things up at home, the first place to start is to treat the Halifax incident as a crime, and to treat individuals that deceive the government (as this gentleman did, with a fake Korean passport...) as the criminals they are.
Canada needs to close the holes in our immigration legislation to make it MORE difficult for people entering the country, not yield to their demands at the expense of taxpayers.

Mind you, we put up enough with Quebec, don't we?

School Bullying in Toronto

Fifteen teens have been released on bail, after being charged with sexual assault and various other crimes, after a girl has come forward, claiming it all happened in school.
The parents of the accused were seen denouncing the victim, and have said that the school never said anything was going on.
Seems to me, we have an issue of out of control teens, at a time when parents are refusing to properly discipline their kids.
Where have we gone wrong? As a parent, I am determined to adhere to strict discipline measures to keep my kids responsible and considerate of others and their property. What these kids have been charged with, reflects directly on their parents. Its about time that the courts go after the kids and the parents, to make a statement saying we will not tolerate insolence of minors, nor the ignorance of their parents. I hope they throw the book at them.
As for the victim, its too bad that a 15 year old girl has to put up with this trauma, and to have done so, for 18 months. She has finally had the nerve to say "enough", and I hope that any other victims of school bullying come forward with their stories, and lets get back to being human beings.

Whoever you are, victims, some of us are pulling for you more that you know.

Deck the Halls...with tax breaks...but for how long?

The Liberals announce personal tax breaks, given the recent turmoil in government about non-confidence. I say its about time. With the recent surpluses reported every year, I want my money in my pocket, not the government coffers.
With the toppling of the government merely months away, I am sure that my tax breaks recently announced, will go by the wayside.
Who do we have to blame for this? The NDP and the Conservatives. They should have known that there were problems with the sponsorship fund before now. It took an inquiry to get it all out on the table, when the opposing parties should have had their finance critics looking at the government's fiscal responsibilities all along.
I hope that when the non-confidence motion is brought up, we do have an election 8 weeks before Martin was going to have one, so that the people can punish the NDP and Conservatives for being weenies. I expect the Liberals will win a minority government, and we will have wasted even more time and money with an election that gets us nowhere. All the election is going to do, is point out who the real morons are.
The Liberals did 2 things right, which I doubt any other party would have done - they paid back sponsorship funds, and they banned some high ranking Liberal party members for life. The only other thing they could do to save face, is to implement rigorous measures into fiscal responsibility, and then, and only then, will they get my vote.

I have been a Conservative all my life...but I won't continue to support a party that has nothing in their back pocket for ensuring a competent, law-abiding government. As it stands right now, my thoughts and vote is moving red...

Anyone Else Pissed Off with Hydro?

Recent quarterly results from hydro utilities, shows unusually high gains in profits, however, when the time comes that we need power available (the summer), it seems that we have to go into "energy saving" mode.

I have a few questions...after all these years, why is it we can't have reliable cheap power? And can anyone tell me how much debt is left outstanding with the old Ontario Hydro?

With all the available capacity in hydrogenerating stations, we should never have a problem with rolling brown outs or other issues.

Its about time someone in the government go after these morons running our hydro plants, and get us into the 21st century.

Saddam's Defense Team Withdrawing?

Recent news states that 1,100 of Saddam's defence lawyers (1,100??) have withdrawn, due to safety concerns.

Safety concerns are a "red herring". I am sure that once the lawyers reviewed the evidence, they saw that they don't have a case.

I still can't believe 1,100 lawyers...in addition to the cost of the war in Iraq, I bet the legal costs, to the US taxpayer, will be huge...good luck swallowing that pill.

QEII now considered an Al Quaeda enemy...better check their list for my Grandma

The latest crap from Al Quaeda is that the Queen is now "one of the severest enemies of Islam", in its attempt to justify the London bombings.

As always, they are trying to justify their warped ways and tactics, with anyone vulnerable to blame for their extremist tactics. That's what spineless dinks do.

The sooner someone or some coalition and goes in and makes Iraq a parking lot, the better. And, by the way, level other hiding spots that OBL might be holed up.

Private Health Care...Why Not?

There seems to be a lot of upset people on the issue of private health care. What does it matter if someone pays for faster service?

We in Canada take health care as a right, when its really a privilege. Check out other countries, and you see that our existing system isn't too bad.

I say yes to private health care, if you can do it within the following guidelines, Mr. Martin;

1) ensure that the public system utilizes the same technology and leading edge technology and practices as the private clinics.
2) ensure that the license fees are sufficient enough so that any admin fees and costs to run a private health clinic DO NOT come out of taxpayers' money at all.
3) If a person opts in to private health care, take away their OHIP benefits and health card.
4) Don't cover any additional medical treatment for privately funded health centers.
5) Ensure that the public health system employees are at least paid 10% better than private health center employees.

Let's see how long it takes for private health care to establish itself under the conditions above.

Just remember, diseases/medical issues/accidents knows no prejudice. Private health care does not mean you will get back to health any quicker or better than public health recipients.

The only guarantee is that you will end up with less money, for nothing more.

Mandatory Gun Sentence? Say It Ain't So

Mr. Cotler has done an about face on mandatory jail time for gun offences.

All I have to say is, glad you finally gave your head a shake, Mr. Cotler...too bad it took a threat of a federal election to get you to change your mind.

By the way, when the judges give out the mandatory incarcerations, don't forget to give the perps a $5 coupon for their first federally-sponsored tattoo...

Gull Bay Vacation Hotspot

Wow, pack up the family, load the wagon, and take a National Lampoon vacation to......Gull Bay!

I know in the brochure, I bet it says lots of good things about how the government would take care of you, dinner out every night, hotel/motel lodging, etc.

Here is a better deal, Mr. Martin and caucus dumbasses. How about buying 20 trailers, throw them on the some crown land up there for a couple of years, furnish them with about $5,000 worth of goodies, and have a small community for the price of $500,000?? Nooooooo, spending $2 million is better. Again, more of our tax dollars gone to waste.

I would like to know how Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles (Trailer Park Boys) would fair in the temporary community? How long before the motel got torched?

Federal Government into Tattooing

Unbelievable...the federal government is getting into the tattoo business, at a cost of $700,000, of taxpayers' money. Their argument? To make sure the inmates have clean needles so they don't get sick.

I say let them get sick!! This kind of program does nothing for prisoner reform. This only goes to show you that the federal government is more interested in making them more "comfy" than to rehabilitate them.

When is the government going to open a licensed lounge for inmates so they can kick back and relax and have a beer after a hard day making $5?

God forbid, they have to have real beer, instead of the ol' "Chateau Tomatoe", in case they get sick.

Start using your heads people...

Lest We Forget

I'm not that insensitive to acknowledge a special day in history...to all of those who fought for the freedom and rights we enjoy today...


In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

ACE Aviation declares dividend

Recent news has it that parent of Air Canada is set to dole out $300 million in dividends to shareholders. If Air Canada averages 25 million passengers a year, that works out to $12 per passenger...is there something wrong with this picture if Milton wants to charge you $2 for a pillow on a flight? How about reducing the dividend to $250 million, and throw the pillows in for free for the confort to your customers?

Supreme Court sides with Mom

Having been separated for 6 years, I was interested in this case. The mother appealed a reduction in child support based on custody arrangements and won. What this means is, that the court has ruled that maintaining the child's standard of living is the first consideration, as it should be, and the time split between parents is not a huge consideration. Where the line must be drawn, is in what constitutes a reasonable standard of living for the child. I could get into details of my situation, but trips south, and a cruise for my kids (I have never been on a cruise yet in my life...) does not maintain their standard of living - it enhances it. The Supreme Court did acknowledge that more equitable custody arrangements will lead to higher costs...and the father will almost always be on the hook for the additional money.

So, congrats to the mother and for all the moms that have the kids in their custody...to us dads, it is another pill to swallow when we can't afford to maintain their standard of living if we want to see them more...something will give, and access by the fathers will be the first thing to give out.

Our Deepest Sympathies, Jordan

The latest cowardly attack on Jordan by suspected Al Qaeda is an abomination...I hope that the US and all other allies see what is going on and squash the animals that are responsible. My condolescences to the people of Jordan, and other nationalities deeply affected by these terrorist attacks.

EI to be reduced 4%

Well, it's a step in the right direction...EI premiums to be cut by 4%. Tell me, Mr. Martin, what are you going to do with the billions in surplus? And how are you going to make it easier for people that need EI, to get it? I suspect that there will be an increase in the availability to expectant moms...let's see how they disperse the excess, to complement the reduced premiums...I won't hold my breath...

Weenie of the Week - Stephen Harper

I know its a bit early for Weenie of the Week, but this post is related to it. The Conservatives are working on trying to force a non-confidence motion for 15 Nov.





The problem, it seems, is that Harper doesn't believe that Layton will follow him with a vote...well, surprise Mr. Harper! Mr. Layton is doing exactly what he should be doing, and that is trying to win concessions for his party and constituents, because he has a VISION. All the Conservatives can do is throw their hands up in the air, without negotiating with the Liberals to further Conservative interests.





So, for not having a backbone, or going after the Liberals on your own merits or agenda, you get the Weenie of the Week award...you didn't let me down Mr. Harper, I knew you would get it this week...lol

Conservatives Making Inroads to Government?

Here's a novel idea - let's have a government thats accountable to the people...sheesh, you would think that the Conservatives would have figured that out BEFORE the Gomery report came out. Its a little disappointing to see that Mr. Harper sees fit that only now, should the reigning government be accountable for spending and for following the trail of money doled out.

I would have thought that this would be the norm by now...I guess once you get found out, you have to make a change on the way you do business. I don't mind the government taking some perks for their work, but to lock down the government in paper trails that will stifle the inner workings, then we have to draw the line.

It is interesting to note, that the Conservatives will be running on a platform of good governance...anything else you might want to have in your back pocket, besides what you should have been running on in the past???

Harper and his cronies will use the system as all previous other governments...to feed off the plates of taxpayers, in the name of "good government"...another one of those oxymorons...headed by the biggest moron around right now.

Any guesses as to who the next Weenie of the Week will be?

Weenie of the Week - Robert Milton

This week was a tough one, until I read the article on how Air Canada plans to compete with no frills airlines (particularily WestJet)...

Mr. Milton and company, plan to charge you $2 for a pillow on your next flight. This should add value for the shareholders and rank you as a customer service guru.

I am sure that reading about the profits made this quarter, passengers will flock even more to your counters looking for that $2 savings on their next flight.

Congratulations for starting down the path to take the airline under yet once again...by the way, if you premix the coffee with cream and sugar before the flight takes off, you can save another 1 cent per cup on stir sticks...

Give me some notice too, when you decide that the economics of bringing my own toilet paper on board starts to yield attractive returns to your bean counters.

Air Canada - How Cheap is Cheap?

Browsing through the biz headlines, and noticing what profits were made in the third quarter, I came across a blurb that said that Air Canada had made about $280 million this quarter...not bad, I thought to myself, consdering the problems the airline had with restructuring last year.

Then lo and behold, another article jumped out at me about Air Canada...besides eliminating meals on North American flights (which is probably a good thing based on the food I have had), they are going to start charging $2 if you want a pillow for the flight.

How small town cheap!!! I bet the financial whiz that came up with that one, is the same person that thought that Chretien should have monogrammed golf balls...

I thought I would give Air Canada another chance...this sort of news just sealed its fate with me and I will stick with Westjet...take your toonie for your pillow and stick it. You would have been better off adding to the price of an alcoholic beverage...

I swear, some people must really need to scrape the bottom of the barrel for a buck...or $2, in this case...

Jack Layton has Class

I am not a fan of the NDP, however, he is the only party leader that has had class in the Gomery affair. Harper has accused the NDP of being too chicken to go to the polls. Layton has class...Paul Martin has taken the first step by passing the report on to the RCMP for review, which, in my mind, is the right thing to do. Kudos to the PM for thinking. The NDP are doing whats best for the people, not whats best for their party, by riding out the results of how Martin handles the situation...unlike the Conservatives or the BQ. If Martin really had nothing to do with the sponsorship scandal (which I still doubt), then he is the guy to make sure justice is done. If he gives the authorities full power and access to investigate criminal proceedings. then he has my vote. Let's wait and see how it is handled. Harper's approach is akin to me saying that he is a dink, because of the leadership of Joe Clark years ago.

Harper should know that this is not the time to call for an election. Again, the Conservatives should rethink the strategy of their leader, and move to have him ousted. For once, I would like to see the Conservatives use their own platform to secure votes. Desparate politicians resort to desparate measures, even at the cost of the people that support them financially.

Follow the lead of the NDP, Mr. Harper...sit and abide your time, and use your time and effort for something more constructive...like building a platform to oust the Liberals in a spring election. I am sure that the rest of your party is tired of eating red herring...

Gomery Revisited

Well, big surprise in the report...Paul Martin, I had you in there as being involved somehow, and I still believe you were. I find it hard to believe, as do other Canadians, that even as minister of finance, you knew nothing that was going on...tsk, tsk, tsk...you just didn't get found out this time.

You were part of the "inner circle". Consider yourself, as an individual, lucky this time. The downfall will be your association with the Liberals...and has anyone else made a connection as to why Martin would suggest a Quebecer as the next GG? Must be just me...Liberal...Quebec...media...sponsorship...connect the dots.

Chretien, no big surprise there. Ouellet, another boring revelation.
Has the Canadian public seen now, how the Liberals are not the be all and end all? I am still miffed, because we don't even have an alternative.

I wish our justice system was like the US...and allow the taxpayers to go after damages a few times greater than the fraud amounts. Does the defrauded taxpayer become eligible for something from the victim relief fund, now that criminal charges are pending???

Gomery Report revealed

Everyone in the political arena is awaiting the Gomery report today, for yet another swipe at the Liberal government. Is the report going to be a surprise?? I doubt it. We all know that corruption and misappropriation of funds is the norm in Ottawa, and other governement centers in the world.

Let's wait and see what Paul Martin and his cronies can come up with today to do damage control. I'll bet that the usual spin doctoring occurs, and with an election looming, look to the Liberals to grovel incessantly in the media.

I can see a few nominees for Weenie of the week coming up...

Kashechewan Water Woes

I love reading articles like this. With tainted water the issue of the day in northern native communities, the only blame the natives want to lay, is on the government.

Listen up natives! Non-indigenous people have been carrying your ass around, with taxpayers money, welfare, and numerous other social programs. Millions and millions have been spent to appease your "aboriginal heritage" and right to land. The government has built the water plants for you, and trained your people to run them. You have gotten millions to operate your tribes/land/social programs.

All you Chiefs out there, where is YOUR fiscal responsibility to your own people to ensure they had clean water?

I am getting tired of the argument of how pristine everything was centuries ago...if Canada hadn't been settled by now, building to where it is today, with advancements in technology and medicine, your aboriginal population would have been wiped out centuries ago by typhoid or some other disease.

Its about time you stood on your own two feet, and quit blaming your situation on everyone else. You got yourself into this mess this time...its time the government said "enough".
I am convinced that as long as we give in to the "demands" of others, our country is going to go to hell in a handbasket quicker than we care to think. Not just bowing to natives, but every other ethnic minority that comes to this country looking for handouts.

Try paying taxes for a few years before you criticize what the government is doing.

Weenie of the Week - John Filion

Legionnaire's disease took over Toronto the past month, and still, the Toronto Public Health board still acts as if nothing is wrong...


For the aggravation and hurt you have caused families in Toronto, due to your cavalier attitude when it comes to old folks, and your lack of initiative to do a full investigation to determine root cause, Mr. Filion, you are the distinguished recipient of this week's Weenie...



I wish all the people who lost someone during this crisis good luck in their class action suit against the city for neglect, and I hope Mr. Filion never has to be on the receiving end of the beauracratic bullshit he and his board has put people through.

Back with a Vengeance!

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I wasn't able to update this blog on a regular basis. Therefore, there is alot of catching up to do!!

David Dingwall - Hard to find fault in the audit, when you are auditing to your own rules...thats like a wolf standing next to the henhouse with feathers in his mouth, telling the farmer that a chicken a day is ok...and us, being the farmers, say "Ok Wolf, we believe ya"...By the way, wolves don't buy gum either...

Paul Martin - well, enough said...dumbass extraordinaire...

Toronto Police - Police have balls to say that they are not paid enough. Tell you what...get another job then! And we can tell what a great job you are doing, with the reduction in violent crime in the city over the summer...good job cops!

Toronto - with the police working to rule, the city is wondering where the extra revenue is going to come from when the police decide to reduce the number of fines they give out...quota system? you bet!

That's enough for now...I am sure there will be lots more to comment on real soon.

Pakistani Aid - How Much is Too Much?

Kudos to the Canadian Government for reacting in the spirit of international cooperation to commit $20 Million to the earthquake victims. I have a problem though. The Muslim community has seen fit to denounce the offer as "inadequate".

I have no problem with the country donating to natural disasters, but one thing should be made very clear...the well is not bottomless, and we have our own issues to deal with at home. For Muslim-Canadians to denounce the offer of $20 Million is reprehensible. Before the Muslim community condemns the government's offer, take a look around and see what has been offered as aid in the past, and what other countries are offering first ($50 Million from US, $6 Million from China, etc.). Keep in mind, that in the last 10 months, there have been numerous natural disasters for which Canada has donated. Tell me if I am wrong, but were the Prairies compensated this fast when the flooding occured this spring? I didn't think so...

Loyalties for Canadians are to Canada first...other countries should not be the priority when Mother Nature speaks...

Government Contracts - What did I promise and for how much?

When I read the article attached to the link above, I thought "I can see where that might be an issue"...then I gave my head a shake...why would any department ALLOW a supplier, of commodities or information, to ask to have all documentation eliminated as part of the contract? Simple...no trace of deliverables, or accountability on behalf of the supplier. I couldn't think of one instance after some thought, that this would be worth the price. As taxpayers, we deserve the right to know where every dollar is spent...and we should be able to track every dollar to outside the government. This is more fiscal abuse the Liberals have to contend with over the next few months before an election.

If this is going to be allowed, then I want to send CCRA a contract, where, as my employer and myself, as employee, won't have to provide on paper how much income I made last year...let's just make it a verbal transaction, and call it at that...you can trust me to give you the right information, and I will tell you, CCRA, how much of a refund you owe me next year...sound fair?

Musharraf has a sense of humour...

I was catching up on the news yesterday, when a Musharraf clip was on...not to minimize the damages and horror of what has happened in Pakistan...but he made a comment when criticized from the crowd about what his government is doing...to paraphrase (since I couldn't find the text of the clip...)..."People, it has only been 24 hours since the earthquake hit...The US weren't even this involved in New Orleans so soon after their tragedy"...2 things can be taken from this...First, GWB, the governments' reaction to New Orleans was unacceptable (all levels, not just federal), and even the butt of jokes internationally. Second, other nations can react in times of need alot quicker that the US ever could, when you look at the scale of tragedies...everyone knew Katrina and Rita were coming...earthquakes, unfortunately, are less predictable...

Delphi Bankruptcy and other fairy tales...

Well, the time is coming for union representation in North America...with Delphi in bankruptcy, the auto industry and unions have to take a serious look at its contribution to the economy. Granted, at one time, a union was useful in speaking together as a whole, to establish fair working conditions for employees, and not to be taken advantage of in the growing economy. However, times have changed. Unions have been working to improve the benefits of their workers past the point of reasonable, to the point where they can't be sustained anymore. With the cost of health care on every NA vehicle reaching unrealistic proportions, in addition to the outrageous wages being paid, slowly but surely the union base is decreasing.
If the unions had any brains at all, they would be looking at maintaining a large member base, but at the cost of wages for everyone...does the union not say they work for the people? I would like to know how they do, since they insist that their older members deserve a higher rate of pay than their younger members (two-tiered pay systems), and pensions that are the envy of most working class. Not to mention, helath benefits that result in GM being the largest healthcare provier in North America.
When will the madness end? The end is near...not only are unionized companies failing rapidly in the US (steel, auto supply), they are stubborn and refuse to acknowledge the fact that the "union machine" is out of control. One day the governments will wake up, and realize that the unionized workforce can no longer be provided for by the state.
Stelco, your end is near also...don't think that a restructuring plan, without concessions from the workforce, will garner you the award for being the lean "steel" machine you want to be. Time will tell, and slowly the establishment will turn against the union for causing havoc in the economy...I know as a taxpayer, I am getting fed up of my dollars going to bail out companies as a worthless cause...
Unions, every last dime you collect on behalf of your membership, hammers another nail into your coffin...I am sure my childrens' children will enjoy reading about the history of unions when they get to school...by then, perhaps, kids going out into the workforce can look forward to equal pay for equal work, regardless of the position in industry, and doing so in a safe, responsible manner.

A Close Second to Weenie of the Week...

Being a Conservative, there has been nothing in the past few years to really celebrate, and with the occasional "floorwalk" (Belinda and Co.), the Conservatives lack a program to get it together to take the Liberals in the next election.
Stephen Harper has done nothing for the party, except to maintain the uneasiness within the ranks (with limited success, and the natives are restless...), and has not come forth with a platform to stand on his own. The only reason the gap is closing in popularity, is because of what the Liberals are doing, not what the Conservatives will or can do...
Enough with feasting on the Liberals misfortune...don't think for a minute that you will be successful on a campaign that criticizes every move the government makes...leaders are ones with vision and a plan...I have yet to see either from you Mr. Harper...
I have never seen so much disarray in the government today. Mr. Harper, if you read this, try being proactive BEFORE the election is called, and make the election a win on your own party's merits. Try to do something that will sway the public, a platform that will meet ALL the public's needs, instead of the destructive damning of the current federal fiascos.

Weenie of the Week - Paul Martin

I have decided to add a weekly feature to this blog....Weenie of the Week...and congratulations to the first recipient...Canada's own, Paul Martin...

For all the crap and stupid moves by the federal government this week. You continue to represent the face of stupidity, and least of all, make Canada look like bumbling idiots.



Thank you Paul, on behalf of all your over-taxed, gas-gouged public!

Dingwall Severance

All I can say is, if the government pays off Dingwall for resigning, look out private sector - the government is setting a precedent to consider severance if you "resign"...Dingwall deserves nothing for quitting his job, and the federal Liberals are dinks if they even consider it - cronyism yet again, and of course, taking care of their own!

MP Mileage Allowance Increase

Bravo for having the nuts to change your mind and rollback the mileage allowance to MPs from 50 cents/km back to 46 cents...I want to know where the government's brain was to even consider it in the first place...

Government Energy Relief

More of my tax dollars (since I pay disproportionately more taxes than the expected recipients) is going to seniors and CCTB families to alleviate them of high energy bills...I challenge the government to do one thing...when you issue the checks in January 2006, correlate the amount you give out, to the increase in revenue at your casinos...where is my break on high fuel prices??

Another 5 Cents

Nothing like the government taking care of their own...they just announced that MPs will be allowed to claim an additional 5 cents per km now, due to some "unknown" reason - well, we know what you did...you gave the MPs the 5 cents a km more for the gas prices that you are allowing to increase in 2 ways...one, you refuse to take the tax off, and two, you find out that an Ottawa think tank is telling you something the taxpaying public already knew...we are being gouged!!!
Thanks Paul, you and your cronies are doomed to never have a majority government for as long as I live...

Toronto's Public Health Department

I finally see that Toronto can't think properly...it takes the US (CNN called it ground zero...) to bring it to a forefront that there is an issue with the old folks dying off recently...too bad it took Toronto a week to finally determine that it MIGHT BE a strain of Legionnaire's disease. Original tests showed that it was negative...
Well, after the damage that SARs had created in Toronto, you all have the balls not to do something to jump into the foray with all the media on what could have been a potential disaster for tourism in Toronto yet again???? THINK AGAIN MORONS! My tax dollars sucked you out of tourism obscurity before...I suggest that next time, Toronto, you come to the world stage and get things resolved sooner rather than later...
And by the way...if you doctors out there think you are underpaid, tell me what the Einsteins should be paid for the current fiasco that Toronto is facing in the media...

Use your head Toronto! (and not the heads of the lovebirds in your licensing department...)

Initial Ranting

I created this blog to be able to bitch and complain of anything I feel like...this might be current events, my job, you name it...don't plan on seeing anything happy here, and yes, I may get offensive to some...so, all you whiners and pro "whatevers", hit the road, and find a tea party to join.