tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69794880880379338562024-03-21T15:00:32.957-07:00The Canadian, DefinedBillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-11329487771674159882013-09-17T08:00:00.000-07:002013-09-23T16:51:10.403-07:00Wind Turbines in Blackdog, Scotland: a major problem<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>BLACKDOG, SCOTLAND: WIND TURBINE TROUBLE</b><br />
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I’ve had a request to write a blog on wind turbines in
Blackdog <st1:place w:st="on">Scotland</st1:place>.
I'd really never before heard of this little town of 82 families but I think they may
be the perfect example of what’s wrong with government and the wind turbine fiasco.
Blackdog is becoming the victim of an environmental tragedy, a tragedy the people of Blackdog neither asked for nor permitted. <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/formartine-area-committee-stop-vattenfall-from-building-a-substation-near-residential-housing" target="_blank">I willinclude a link that will give you better info</a> on this but I would like to
concentrate on the wind turbines in general here.</div>
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As countries throughout the EU abandon their failed attempts
at wind power, there are still a few that continue to throw away billions of
much needed tax dollars on what is, at best, an intermittent energy source
requiring generator backups; at worst, this is a full blown ponzi scheme. Those who do just a
little research will understand this quickly enough. It’s the families of
Blackdog and the families of all the towns around the world forced to take on wind
turbines that I am concerned about.</div>
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<b>WHAT IF IT WERE YOU IN THIS POSITION?</b><br />
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Imagine you buy a lovely home in a quiet rural setting. You
have chosen this rural life for its peace and serenity. Then one day the government walks in and tells you they are putting a wind farm next to your land. You have
no choice. All the placards & town meetings with turbine officials will
have no effect. The government wants these wind turbines. In <st1:state w:st="on">Ontario</st1:state> these companies are given carte
blanche to ignore provincial and federal wildlife regulations. These “bird
blenders” are often put in bird migratory routes. The groups you think that
should come to your rescue Like the WWF are silent. In <st1:state w:st="on">Ontario</st1:state> they destroyed a bald eagle's nest
just to make an access road. In <st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state> wind turbines are killing
condors, a bird the government has spent millions on trying to save from extinction
(see video below). People are complaining of a host of human health issues and these
issues are being recognized by the health community. Just not by governments.<br />
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So now you are
a home owner beside one of these monsters. You can’t sell because no one wants
to live near one. You understand that like in <st1:state w:st="on">Ontario</st1:state>, the power output is minuscule
(usually .05% of required energy needs on a good day) so you know they’re a
complete waste of money. Your health is affected.</div>
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So you organize. You fight back. 60 of the 82 families in
Blackdog rejected the construction of the wind turbine substation yet it’s
still a go. Fighting seems to do nothing. What do you do? You get the word out.
Not only about your plight about the ponzi scheme that is the wind turbine
industry.<br />
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<b>COMMON SENSE OVER ECO-PANIC</b></div>
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Lets keep it simple. Would you buy a car that got .5km to
the tank but put out 0% emissions? Now the car is also a million dollars and the government is forcing you to buy
one. You say to yourself, "Sure I want 0
emissions, but not at this cost," but now you have no choice. The car will be
built in a foreign factory so no jobs will be produced & the amount of
power to build and ship these monsters would take decades to receive from said
auto. Now the maintenance costs of the car are unbelievable which also eats up
more of your dollars. (With a wind turbine, every time the wind stops a generator
must be used to balance the flow, costing even more money). Oh, and every time a
bird or an animal walked by it would die. How is this sounding so far?<br />
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Well this is the wind
turbine industry. Few jobs, massive upkeep costs, massive environmental costs,
massive production costs, ill affects on human health, and little return on investment. Take Ontario for example. The liberal government her has spent $17 billion putting up wind turbines. They have circumvented nearly every ecological law, ruined countless acres of our most beautiful landscape, killed countless animals & birds, affected peoples health and for what? On average they produce (when running) .05% of our total energy requirements! Now they are paying producers to not produce even the pathetic amount of power they do produce. But guess what, they want to put five times more wind turbines up on some of our most ecologically sensitive landscape. We are paying them not to produce and they want to build fives times more turbines! Thats like parking your SUV because it uses too much gas and then buying five more SUV's!<br />
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Or perhaps you would like to live beside one of these when they blow up. Yes sir these little beautys fail in a most spectacular fashion. watch these videos and tell me if you would feel safe living around one<br />
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The people of Blackdog are like any small community which is under attack from wind turbines and bad science. Its time this kind of abuse
stopped. Governments are supposed to work for the people, not agendas and
foreign corporations. They<a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/formartine-area-committee-stop-vattenfall-from-building-a-substation-near-residential-housing" target="_blank"> have a website</a> where all they ask is
that you sign in and help them get the word out. Information is power and if
enough of us stop consuming the dogma the environmentalists and governments are
feeding us maybe, just maybe we can make a difference. Spread the word. As a
matter of fact spread the word about the poor bastards in your own area that are
forced to live this nightmare. That could help too.</div>
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<a href="http://www.windaction.org/opinions/39573">http://www.windaction.org/opinions/39573</a></div>
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Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-64651992807445034812013-08-06T10:59:00.002-07:002013-08-06T10:59:54.340-07:00Why a downtown casino is the only choice for Ottawa<h2>
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Why
a downtown casino is the only choice for <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ottawa</st1:place></st1:city></span></span></h2>
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<span lang="EN-CA"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYJKRsMUS1lpt2-xT7OTqVe7kTkM7c5pTpXr-3W2M9fjaU8p1G_69uhyphenhyphenSnA4gpzOUFv79Qz2N77pb2wwov3rph1uUtVN6oEq-BEQcbwTd43uG2cohocVxAkprbp5Z3pDFb-7FtTiIrWlX/s1600/mgm+blogto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYJKRsMUS1lpt2-xT7OTqVe7kTkM7c5pTpXr-3W2M9fjaU8p1G_69uhyphenhyphenSnA4gpzOUFv79Qz2N77pb2wwov3rph1uUtVN6oEq-BEQcbwTd43uG2cohocVxAkprbp5Z3pDFb-7FtTiIrWlX/s320/mgm+blogto.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MGM Toronto plan.<a href="http://www.blogto.com/upload/2013/03/20130206-MGM-Casino1.jpg" target="_blank"> image source</a></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Why do we have casinos? Some say it’s the
entertainment value. Man has found pleasure in the rush of gambling since the
dawn of time and that need for the thrill of winning is why we visit and enjoy
casinos. There is also the fun of shows, dining, and getting together with
friends. The MGM plan for <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Toronto</st1:place></st1:city>
actually only had 17% of its land dedicated to casino space <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC8KPkTSrJA" target="_blank">(here's a clip)</a>.
The rest was hotels, conference center, parks, and restaurants. Today’s modern
casinos make most of their money in these areas, not gambling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">The main reason a city would accept a
casino is for profitability, whether it’s profit sharing or taxes, tourism or
entertainment; cities do it for the money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">CHOOSING A VIABLE LOCATION IN OTTAWA</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"> So
you’re an investor and you want your enterprise to be as profitable as
possible. What are you going to look for? Well first you’re going to look at
market viability. Will your location support your new business? Do you have
competitors? Can you buy them out so you can be your own competition (eg.
Future Shop & Best Buy did this)? Where is the population and tourists you
need as customers? Do you build from scratch or do you retrofit an existing
building? What is the local transportation like and will you have to build
roads to get access to your building? The CT Center (formerly the Scotiabank
Place, home of the Ottawa Senators) had to build its own overpass to get such
access.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyjjO6gAlRdm_LtIvoKerrG8xQr6XQBdcFgpsmoxbu5VA7_1rq__1EbRPQUTDB1GxPZiDP5_M6pDXw4nbtKojEc9-hTsfj6TH4q64wWQ2FWLIZocd6ZQtiZWUBDQS-eCMLQNnrZ8HD0hu/s1600/rideau+carleton.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyjjO6gAlRdm_LtIvoKerrG8xQr6XQBdcFgpsmoxbu5VA7_1rq__1EbRPQUTDB1GxPZiDP5_M6pDXw4nbtKojEc9-hTsfj6TH4q64wWQ2FWLIZocd6ZQtiZWUBDQS-eCMLQNnrZ8HD0hu/s1600/rideau+carleton.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The RCR. Clearly in the boonies.</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Now for the sake of argument we are going
to say there are two possible, truly viable, casino locations. The first is the
Rideau Carleton Raceway (RCR) and the second is located at the City Center (CC)
on Scott St. This would also include the land on the other side of Scott where
the snow dump is now—a huge waste of downtown land, where snow is accumulated
throughout the winter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">CITY CENTRE WINS OUR VOTE.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Both
locations have good size footprints; both have space for free parking or at least
the ability to build underground parking. Both could be built or retrofitted to
be whatever design you would like. As far as location goes this is where the
two sites part ways. Fears and emotions aside, the downtown location has the
winning hand. Transportation is fantastic. The O Train runs right behind the
building and the casino could actually be a stop on the line. The new Light
Rail Transit (LRT) is right in front. Scott St, The Parkway, and the Queensway
give excellent east-west access. There are four bridges within 1-3 km for
access to Quebec. It is within 5-10 minutes travel of every major hotel and
most of the major tourist destinations. The main bike paths are next door and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Gatineau</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype></st1:place> is minutes away. Like RCR, the
location doesn’t interfere with any of the downtown businesses and will
actually increase business for the local economy by drawing tourists to
downtown Ottawa. Picture 5000-6000 patrons downtown each night. Those are
numbers Ottawa Tourism would kill for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Dl4NufSRf6WeLCCQeioQ-vtVcXa3OTqbYdGWqyBpdWHRNovjqPrQVDeDOGdrva4Jeel77APVo-hk6vp9vxO6VLL4citu2kzg3-1uwQ_rEMyjLpeq_y1OKHaAfSiks5wrlLaJpi_hGm7A/s1600/citycentre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Dl4NufSRf6WeLCCQeioQ-vtVcXa3OTqbYdGWqyBpdWHRNovjqPrQVDeDOGdrva4Jeel77APVo-hk6vp9vxO6VLL4citu2kzg3-1uwQ_rEMyjLpeq_y1OKHaAfSiks5wrlLaJpi_hGm7A/s320/citycentre.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What currently squats on the City Centre property.</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-CA"> </span>The RCR has none of these advantages. As a
matter of fact, the city never even bothered to run a bus route to the RCR and
it’s been operating gaming and horse track activities for years.</div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">The City Centre has another huge advantage.
It doesn’t come with any baggage. Everyone keeps asking, why would you not want
to stay with RCR? Some say that those who go there now will not go to a new
casino. Well, we heard the same argument when people threatened never to go to
a restaurant or a bar if they outlawed smoking. They still went to bars and
restaurants. Now some will stubbornly remove the fun of the casino from their lives
just to spite us. But those numbers will be easily made up by the tourists and
the people not going to the Lac Leamy Casino. Which is good for Ontario:
keeping tourism and gaming monies in the Ontario economy and gaming charities.
Those who go to the RCR currently because it’s close to their homes will make
the trip to the downtown locale: just take the Airport Parkway downtown and you
are there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBxGMIKtuVPtWnH4xlm5nehigum7aTvBwtDgoGb4TOsDkBAqdCDXfCROjgSKB91muS9Wql_j2LtOVTgVbZRtZe-ynbE4eHwNV7Nja1tYi_uq4_mH5016RuhAepH4jM3sDALHgz20S0EA6/s1600/citycentre3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBxGMIKtuVPtWnH4xlm5nehigum7aTvBwtDgoGb4TOsDkBAqdCDXfCROjgSKB91muS9Wql_j2LtOVTgVbZRtZe-ynbE4eHwNV7Nja1tYi_uq4_mH5016RuhAepH4jM3sDALHgz20S0EA6/s320/citycentre3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The City Centre: tons of space, right downtown.</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Secondly: if they build downtown, they don’t
have to deal with the Horseracing Association and the costs involved in
maintaining a dying sport. I know this is where photos of horses being carted
off to the abattoir start showing up. But the sport is archaic and not locally
beloved. You either pump the money into a business to make it run or you let it
go. I hated to see camera film disappear but what replaced it has changed the
world. If we are going to make a go of this we can’t do it without cutting the
costs. Why would a new competitor take on an albatross like the Horseracing
Association when it could build anew without the headache? And with the RCR
gone, the profits flow to the new location.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">So you see, it’s really a simple question
of economics. We don’t have to build $200 million in infrastructure according
to Councillor Diane Deane’s estimates. And I’m sure that the new casino would
be glad to pitch in on the LRT, which, like every other city building project,
green bin program, bridge construction, will be grossly over-budget and in need
of funds. Ottawa needs a <i>destination</i>.
Something to put it on the map. A new Downtown Casino built to the likes of MGM
or Ceasars will be a boon to this City, the economy—not to mention the
percentage payback to the Province (to support Health Care, Trillium Funds etc)
and our City infrastructure and costs. The spin-off economy, jobs and tourism
will far outweigh any agricultural job loss that has been tossed at us as a
poor excuse for defaulting to the paltry RCR location.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Downtown is the clear-cut winner here; when
will our councillors accept that, or will they continue to muck around
ignorantly until it’s too late, and we have another Lynx Stadium on our hands:
another money-hemorrhaging mess? It’s not too late, Councillors: wake up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-46858115959841597322013-06-09T16:06:00.002-07:002013-06-09T16:06:55.131-07:00Canadian Government: what the hell is going on?
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It’s been a while since I did one of these. I think that
twitter got the best of me; anyway, here goes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
Over the last few months I’ve
been commenting on the state of government on both sides of the border. Whether
its municipal, provincial, or federal government it seems to have lost its way.
Take a simple thing like “The Big Dig” in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ottawa</st1:place></st1:city>.
They planned for years to start this project (citywide light rail transit) and
did absolutely nothing to accommodate drivers. The one reason given for the
project in the first place is the congestion in the core, and yet nothing was
planned for said drivers. Forget the fact that we spend tens of millions of
dollars for planners, surveys, contractors, and communications people to work
theses things out; its as if the car does not fit the government’s agenda, so
lets not do anything to help them through the construction. Of course the
popular theory is that nothing was done so people would be forced onto transit.
Forget that we live in the 2<sup>nd</sup> coldest capital on the planet thus
rendering bicycles (the city’s choice for transit) useless six months of the
year. Forget that they are building a tunnel without planning how to extend the
route east and west. Does anyone see a pattern forming?<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
The provincial government is
building power systems that have been rejected by EU countries as too expensive
and too inefficient to continue. The money that’s being wasted on these
projects is supposed to be going into healthcare, yet they cut physio to the
elderly. It’s so bad that the upper echelon has erased the email records of the
gas plant projects to seemingly protect themselves. Have you wondered where the
emails for all the other scandals went, too? I have.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
We have the government in the US
embroiled in scandal after scandal that may be affecting the constitution
itself. The document that is the basis for what is arguably the most successful
country on earth. What is going on? <o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
It seems that governments, in a
bid to be kept in power, have sacrificed the needs of the people to further
that agenda. Right or wrong, many citizens are coming to realize this.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
Take the wind power program.
Whether you believe in it or not, the thing is just too damned expensive. So
what do you do if you have to feed the family? Do you sell the Porsche or do
you ask the kids for their allowances to keep it? The government chooses to
keep taking the allowance, cutting medical, increasing the cost of electricity,
water, heat, all the things we need to survive just to keep the Porsche.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
The worst part is that all levels
have bought into the Leader Syndrome. You made me the leader so I know better
than all of you. And you gave me this power for 4 years so I can do anything I
want with impunity. 100 years ago, having 4 years to work your agenda seemed
short but with today’s technology and legal system its amazing what can happen.
The final straw is that the promises they give to get elected can be utterly
ignored and a new agenda put in place that had nothing to do with the reason we
elected them in the first place.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
So what’s the answer? Well it’s
simpler than you think. First: hold all prospective leaders accountable to
their promises and their agenda. Make it law. Number two: build recall
legislation to remove said leaders should they not follow rule one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more nonsense about “we didn’t know the
country was broke” or “we promised but now we know better” we hold them to
their promises. And if the country is broke and the previous government lied,
then they are held legally accountable. (Now, if war breaks out or emergencies
take place, there would be flexibility. Common sense flexibility.) Finally: the
books and the contracts of all projects are made available to everyone. No more
secret deals. If you want to do business with the big boys, open the books to
prove you are worth it. Now this is the money contracts I’m referring to, not
technology and patents that are protected. (Again, common sense.) The books
need to be fully open to see how they spend our money. Believe me there are
plenty of brilliant people who can hold the government to account. This will be
painful at first (for governments) because they have built the way they do
business on secrecy. But in the long run common sense will prevail. Think about
it like a bank loan. You have to prove the project is viable before you get the
money, right? <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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What do you think? What would you
do if you were given the power over the special interest groups that drive
today’s agenda and could introduce them to common sense? What would you do?<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-10345101356855859152012-11-13T17:18:00.001-08:002012-11-13T17:18:36.513-08:00Christmas Is Canadian: standing up for Christmas<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Canadians love Christmas. No matter how or why we celebrate
it, Christmas is <u>the</u> holiday time! Of course Christmas is many things to
many people. For some it’s just another holiday, for others its Santa clause
and the giving of gifts. This one is very important because without it most
businesses could not survive. Many retail businesses do over 90% of their sales
during the Christmas season! Without it the economy would come to a grinding
halt.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPaExTwa_YHFuZdYshx9yz_-GXbJV5-ho5neFbeq-3IP689WjZxLBZjJkZE8eG79peCwjzQZZkbsT4EMG_fzSVJpkTyRVLR1CuBKzpnbmsxErTjVqXSsDXfjoHb3IqnEzhJlVG4gHOlUc/s1600/santa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPaExTwa_YHFuZdYshx9yz_-GXbJV5-ho5neFbeq-3IP689WjZxLBZjJkZE8eG79peCwjzQZZkbsT4EMG_fzSVJpkTyRVLR1CuBKzpnbmsxErTjVqXSsDXfjoHb3IqnEzhJlVG4gHOlUc/s320/santa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The true meaning of course is the celebration of the birth
of Christ. For hundreds of years Christmas has been celebrated as a time of
love and family and devotion yet this most wonderful time is under attack.
There are those who feel that the meaning of Christmas should be all inclusive
and because of that the name should be changed. This is happening right under
the apathetic eyes of the very Christians whose celebration it is. My own
Muslim friends think it quite strange that Christians would stand for such a
thing. They say they would never allow such a thing in their religion.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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I must admit I too am ashamed at the apathy within the
Christian churches but mostly with its people. Christmas has become a buying
holiday and it’s because Christians are unwilling or afraid to stand up for
their own beliefs. So I am standing up for Christmas.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Number one: I will say Merry Christmas to everyone I speak to
in conversation.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Secondly I will refuse to purchase any product from any
store that does not greet me or respond by saying Merry Christmas. That’s
right. Christmas is not Festivous or Seasons greetings or the Holiday
time, it’s Christmas. If the retail stores cannot recognise their major profit
season and tell their staff to say Merry Christmas then I’m out of there. I
have spoken to many sales people and they say the store actually forbids them
to respond to Merry Christmas! These people who make their daily bread off of
the celebration of Christmas should at least recognise it by name! Imagine if
every Christian did this. The store would change their policy over night or go
broke but more importantly Christians would maybe start to grow a spine about
their beliefs. </div>
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<br /></div>
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What do you think and more importantly what are you going to do
about it? </div>
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<br /></div>
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Oh, and for those who don’t believe in Christmas, stop being such
hypocrites by celebrating and taking time off. Stay in your job over the season
and refuse to partake in the holiday in any way. That would be the moral thing
to do. And, to the rest of us, a very Merry Christmas. </div>
Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-42339426108710407472012-09-20T19:12:00.000-07:002012-09-20T19:56:07.586-07:00Green Bin Folly: How Ottawa Can Win Back Our Trust<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzx-EOHrRoq-oQyOt6_WifTTr_Y2wplZeFAu_tXGqYweucgL3kY9iQb-Q5gpDVMaVtatWjH4faJZE2ddShgAIeODVlu89zIRUOeL8cZmrCgL_QsN7L7zML3Ujzvdz31AuRxt7UFDHX4cx/s1600/file0002035879828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzx-EOHrRoq-oQyOt6_WifTTr_Y2wplZeFAu_tXGqYweucgL3kY9iQb-Q5gpDVMaVtatWjH4faJZE2ddShgAIeODVlu89zIRUOeL8cZmrCgL_QsN7L7zML3Ujzvdz31AuRxt7UFDHX4cx/s320/file0002035879828.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So let’s talk about trust in Government. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes you really believe that you are the last person on
the planet that God gave common sense to. Ottawa
city hall is a good example of what I mean. A year or two or ago we embarked on
our green bin adventure. This was Ottawa’s
bid to save our planet and we were sold on the premise that:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>it
would expand the lifespan of our landfill by a few years</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>it’s
good for the environment</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>it
will save us money.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So our councillors go ahead with a 20yr contract knowing
full well that they could not reach the target tonnage. They also signed that,
whether we meet tonnage or not, the taxpayers will still pay the full tonnage
weight. Brilliant. The first year is a complete failure. They bought expensive
green bins and supplied them to all home owners, even though many actually have
no pickup. The city bought special trucks and doubled the amount of trips to
empty the green bins. They are so desperate to cover up their mistake that they
divert yard waste and park waste to the green bin. Of course it costs ten times
more to do this that the original yard waste program but they cannot be seen to
fail. Even with this extra tonnage they barely make 60% of the requirements. So
the next step is to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars advertising the
program that the majority of Ottawans have no interest in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally realizing that there is no way to reach their goal,
they decide to cut regular garbage pickup in an attempt to force citizens to
the green bin. Their premise is that this will lessen the amount of garbage
produced, thus saving money. Except for one thing: if the city creates a
million pounds of garbage, it produces a million pounds of garbage. No matter
how many bins you divide it by, it’s still a million pounds. Of course they
deny the real problem is the contract, and they try to sell the environmental
benefits. They say this will lead to a decrease in costs even though they have
added multiple truck trips. Unbelievable, isn’t it?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6etBaRxHbv9tGdtvyl28gRK7nSPpSoXrpmactVfcrAu_vggYytybMG6j91WWjeh_PnWqj3FPytbXh0Lng8_-oltYcSk0-xO31OFNJNaLVuOQWdfaoC9LFTFDgFDD5CPhYUMXhNBYvaFlx/s1600/file1951245765382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6etBaRxHbv9tGdtvyl28gRK7nSPpSoXrpmactVfcrAu_vggYytybMG6j91WWjeh_PnWqj3FPytbXh0Lng8_-oltYcSk0-xO31OFNJNaLVuOQWdfaoC9LFTFDgFDD5CPhYUMXhNBYvaFlx/s320/file1951245765382.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So let’s look at the three reasons for the green bin in the
first place. First is the dump lifespan. The dump accepts 75% commercial waste,
20% or so home waste with a tiny percentage of organic material. Commercial
waste is everything from construction material to new clothing that the stores won’t
return. Now these inorganic materials do not break down so they make up the
bulk of the dump. The organic waste is the only thing that breaks down and
because it does it shrinks in size dramatically. It also heats up and helps
things like wood break down more quickly. It also produces methane that can be
used to heat and power the dump. Organics are not the problem.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Off course all these points are moot because the city has
trucks coming from other cities to dump their garbage! That’s right, their
stated worry is filling the landfill and they continue to ship in garbage.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok, the next argument is the environment. Part of the first
issue helps with the second. But the main problem is the cost of hauling. We
now have three fleets of diesel trucks on the road 12 hours a day. We have tens
of thousands of plastic bins and we have a factory breaking the waste down that
would have broken down in the dump.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The final one is money. The answer to this also lies in the
other two issues. Plus, we have the added expense of $7,500,000 a year to Orgaworld.
Here is the final nail in the coffin. We are about to start what we should have
done in the first place: we are now going to burn the garbage with plasma and
produce energy from it. No more dump issues and according to the company,
biologicals wont hurt the process. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So why are we going ahead with this expensive unwanted folly
of green bins? Because no one in the council is going to admit they were wrong.
If they would just come clean and admit they screwed up, we could find a way to
break the contract and start with a clean slate. It’s a matter of trusting us to
accept their apology, and it’s a matter of faith for us to believe in the
system again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">What do you think, and will you email you councillor to make
this happen?</span></h4>
Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-29279165306595147092012-09-14T13:18:00.001-07:002012-09-14T13:18:23.151-07:00The World Needs More John Wayne: Honesty, Integrity, and Balls<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivO5-n9WqLHHcvbuU0D2ZCHWBZJOEsqwZDQstiJupTI8T65dAcgnM7RRXPI9BzWPL5XVLBGWhj07ihJhU-aT5eyLciHholk-dwie0FrYP8jUFA_5hUx-D1dBiMe6PC1XIsmwSus63VAdWK/s1600/John_Wayne_Brisbane_1943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivO5-n9WqLHHcvbuU0D2ZCHWBZJOEsqwZDQstiJupTI8T65dAcgnM7RRXPI9BzWPL5XVLBGWhj07ihJhU-aT5eyLciHholk-dwie0FrYP8jUFA_5hUx-D1dBiMe6PC1XIsmwSus63VAdWK/s320/John_Wayne_Brisbane_1943.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
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Over the last few months trust has become an issue for
Canadians. Trust in government, trust in people, trust in spouses, trust in
churches, and even trust in themselves. Can you trust the guys at work? What
are people saying about you? What ever happened to the strength we garnered
from trust? My father said that you can tell the worth of a man (or woman) by
the value they put on their word. If you say you will be there, then be there!
Yet today I see kids who tell their friends they will meet at the shopping
center and when the kid goes the friends don’t show up. Then when they call to
see what happen the other kid will say “Oh I changed my mind.” It does not
phase them that they went against their word and wasted their friend’s time.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What has changed? Why would our children not understand the
value of their word? I have a theory. The school system, parents, and the media
do not talk about the Golden rule any more. Take John Wayne. What made him the
man we all wanted to be? When John told you something you could bet your life
(literally) that he not only meant every word but that he would follow through.
His quiet strength and full belief in what he said told you this is a man. How
long has it been since you were with a person like this?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Another one of his great strengths was his common sense. You
knew that his belief in common sense is what gave him his unshakeable sense of
purpose. In<i> El Dorado</i>
he is tough on Robert Mitchum who has become a drunk over a lost love. You know
that he is Mitchum’s friend, but he won’t put up with anything but recovering
the man he knew. It may seem simplistic, but common sense is simple.
Right/wrong, needed/not, good/bad, first things first and the frills come
second (something government has lost track of); it’s simple. How do you teach the
golden rule? You make it the rule in your life and you prove it to others by
being unwavering in your beliefs. Then you pass that rule on and you hold each
person accountable to it. Finally you don’t deal or compromise on their word or
yours. Period. What do you think and how important is surrounding yourself with
people who share your beliefs?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Oh here's a final gem from Mr. Wayne.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted,
and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people and I
expect the same from them."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: black;">Simple right?</span></span></div>
Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-82824297564564735262012-09-03T18:09:00.000-07:002012-09-03T22:41:13.921-07:00Quebec Separation: The Spoiled Teen Province<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEVB0VxySdFBVO-7HlU8tCLTxwXaEdTXPCP41eObLaktFhj3FTQ1Hs7zyjioiMC18izfTJV7Es9_jgLWMskj8zM8MjD-hlzgnzh3wnfG61l0DnlQybI8yEH33nl4iPqEf97RnGsH7SmHm/s1600/file000383394445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEVB0VxySdFBVO-7HlU8tCLTxwXaEdTXPCP41eObLaktFhj3FTQ1Hs7zyjioiMC18izfTJV7Es9_jgLWMskj8zM8MjD-hlzgnzh3wnfG61l0DnlQybI8yEH33nl4iPqEf97RnGsH7SmHm/s1600/file000383394445.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Canadians hate spoiled children. There is nothing more
aggravating than watching a teenager stomping their feet and whining about how
misunderstood they are. Then, when they get what they want, they rest only long enough to find
a new set of demands. The</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
justice comes when the parents finally say enough is enough
and they show the kid the door. Of course the kid thinks that it’s a bluff. Mom
and Dad have given in every other time right? Only this time the kid went too far. The
locks are changed, the visa is</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
cancelled, the cell phone is cancelled, and the allowance is
done.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">QUEBEC NEEDS TO GROW UP. </span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the tipping point that Quebecers find themselves at
today. Too many demands, too many racist laws, too many times ignoring who pays for their
nonsense. This time they will be alone. The Cree won’t side with them. I heard a Cree
chief comment once about the chance of separating. He said the Cree control the lands
with the hydro lines. He said you would be surprised what two Cree, a pickup, a case of
beer, and a box of dynamite can do to bring a province to its senses. He wasn’t smiling.
Labrador isn’t coming and</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
that cuts of the last of the hydro and the last of the
export dollars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Does Quebec remember the mass exodus of businesses the last
time things got this close? Business does not want extra costs and regulation and they
certainly don’t need laws that restrict the labour pool. Oh, the federal employees
shouldn’t forget that they will not be Canadians and therefore will not be able to work in a
foreign government. Of course this will lead to an employment boom and bilingualism won’t be a
factor, so all Canadians will have an even shot—not a bad prospect after the oppression of
false bilingualism.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
HISTORY REPEATING.</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0X8Pe04sdSne0p-ZseLd6oK3ws38hGZ0DKWkzDIRp5XH4RGgTHSCJk8lHAclGZrZUbi0hZuKAdPhlg6neCjCtr3GzKUT3wqmH5yywQMIs0Z5qHgLS3x51idjzy9LQ11nppItvJJZXu-us/s1600/non2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0X8Pe04sdSne0p-ZseLd6oK3ws38hGZ0DKWkzDIRp5XH4RGgTHSCJk8lHAclGZrZUbi0hZuKAdPhlg6neCjCtr3GzKUT3wqmH5yywQMIs0Z5qHgLS3x51idjzy9LQ11nppItvJJZXu-us/s1600/non2.gif" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last time we faced the possibility of separation, it was
Canadians that put their hearts on the line and pulled us from the brink. That
will not happen this time. Even if separation is averted Canadians are in no
mood to acquiesce to more demands. The Quebec separatists have crossed the
line. I believe that the Prime Minister needs to explain Quebec what really
happens when they leave. Explain the agreements that were signed about lands
that revert to Canada should they separate. Explain that separation means just
that: separation. Just like the heartbroken parent he needs to be firm no
matter how much it hurts. I know Canadians are ready to support the hard
truths.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So where do we go from here? Does the teenager grow up? Do
the parents change the</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
locks and wait? And when they do leave, what do we do with
all the Quebec refugees?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What do you see happening and what would you like to happen?</div>
Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-29944889140474923292012-08-21T10:02:00.002-07:002012-08-21T10:02:53.197-07:00Playing the Odds: Ottawa's New Casino and How Council Could Screw It Up
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNpUrEPCbsd8u6NQDDxVlM6bYLfG_cW46b2Hp6mOyNiTG-gTHqIT_bHW2JRJTVM4t-SqyN3EPlXqOXZJA90gepJKoIVM0kCEYJImjhJwCfHfCMxMTJS4fFe8vvR1EypEjN7b96wpQrlsI/s1600/ottawa1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNpUrEPCbsd8u6NQDDxVlM6bYLfG_cW46b2Hp6mOyNiTG-gTHqIT_bHW2JRJTVM4t-SqyN3EPlXqOXZJA90gepJKoIVM0kCEYJImjhJwCfHfCMxMTJS4fFe8vvR1EypEjN7b96wpQrlsI/s320/ottawa1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ottawa. source: morguefile</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I hope you don’t mind me discussing this
but Ottawa seems to run out of commons sense sometimes. I always find it funny that if
you get three friends together over dinner and a beer, they always seem to come up with
the answer to life’s questions. That is how we came up with the solution I’m going to
present to you for Ottawa casino the province is considering for the city.
Let’s walk you through it.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #990000;">A CASINO FOR OTTAWA </span></span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Tired of watching millions upon millions of
dollars going over to the Gatineau casino across the Quebec border, the
province has decided they want their piece of the pie: let’s allow a casino to
be built in Ottawa. Our mayor seems behind the idea and has set a few criteria.
One, it must be downtown, and two, it must be on our new rapid transit way. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Unfortunately there is no space right
downtown. Any big-time Casino corporation is going to want space to build a
hotel and conference facilities because modern casinos make 60% of their money
from such facilities. The Bytown Market business association has already
expressed their distaste for having it anywhere near the Market. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="color: #990000;">
<span lang="EN-US">THE ELEGANT SOLUTION</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqM4PPAglX40yWyJlnATke5Fo2B4SKabZLVFrOp6uz5AgHdbui7CVq-m0TGOE6MSZc55qwOwCDycKk6bnK75kOVbebT6eftZK20eLH-n-YYBIhZC3EFxciV3VM8mhNwwV34wRFXJJrqRzR/s1600/ottawaconferenceroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqM4PPAglX40yWyJlnATke5Fo2B4SKabZLVFrOp6uz5AgHdbui7CVq-m0TGOE6MSZc55qwOwCDycKk6bnK75kOVbebT6eftZK20eLH-n-YYBIhZC3EFxciV3VM8mhNwwV34wRFXJJrqRzR/s320/ottawaconferenceroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conference space, hotel space, event space: <br />all part of a casino's success.<br />source: morguefile</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">However, there is one location that fits
all the requirements. That location is at the corner of Booth Street, Scott St.
and the MacDonald (River) Parkway, or what is affectionately known as LeBreton
Flats. As it stands today this location is a huge multi-acre empty field. The
casino would sit directly on the transit way and could even have it run through
the building. Booth Street runs virtually in a direct line to the Queensway,
and it runs straight into Gatineau. The Parkway allows vehicles to come from
the west of the city; it also allows fantastic access to the center of the city
and the existing hotels. A shuttle such as they use in Las Vegas could bring people
from the hotels to the casino. The land itself is a weed field and has been for
fifty years so there will not be complaints of a loss of park space or tree
canopy. The new water system</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">recently installed in the area gives it
good infrastructure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #990000;">WIN-WIN </span></span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">What else would we gain? Well, the
corporation that takes the project on would have to do upgrades to any other infrastructure they
need. It would pay huge tax dollars and profits to the city and the province, including paying
some of the costs of the new transit way. We won’t have to tear up the downtown core and
that means less traffic havoc. It physically won’t affect our downtown tourist area or
force us to tear down culturally relevant buildings (heritage stuff). The National
Capital Commission’s parkland in front of the War Museum, located right across
the street, will benefit from the facilities, restaurants, shops, etc. making
it a true tourist area. The city will get its much-needed new hotel. This is
pretty much a win-win for everyone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vz-oZbTDP1-0feeO8621BhphzOceY3MdJxJaEJUENwDmO7IIz1I-_8wUjNlAqVbTjkIL9ld64bVdzC4UlDLOYCunq8MxMW-rCpv0g-HmV3K6kKWVyg9UGRJGnwmVjmGRx1LWTe09Lgst/s1600/keyboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vz-oZbTDP1-0feeO8621BhphzOceY3MdJxJaEJUENwDmO7IIz1I-_8wUjNlAqVbTjkIL9ld64bVdzC4UlDLOYCunq8MxMW-rCpv0g-HmV3K6kKWVyg9UGRJGnwmVjmGRx1LWTe09Lgst/s320/keyboard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #990000;">LET'S DO THIS THING. </span></span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So what do we need to do to move this
forward? First, send this blog to everyone on your lists; share it over facebook and twitter;
post it on Reddit. The more people thinking about it the better. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Second, talk about it. We will get one
chance to do this right. Do you want to leave something this important to city
councillors and the Province? I sure don’t. Let’s get our say in now.</span></div>
Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-26448201179593972682012-07-31T15:01:00.001-07:002012-07-31T15:09:02.976-07:00Little Dog Lost: Canadians And Kindness<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKVo1MegToSS1Mf4zpuwo_NTFleyU2eLQgCD5Q2yR9XDkiWsn93I-e9h8ymTQMgAtjszSv9wHtg1brNpXnTrLICwFSah622tSpTCmu2jKlcTmZkO8m0xlEnXd8eI2fDq8aGwcbb42HjVT/s1600/tempcowboypic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKVo1MegToSS1Mf4zpuwo_NTFleyU2eLQgCD5Q2yR9XDkiWsn93I-e9h8ymTQMgAtjszSv9wHtg1brNpXnTrLICwFSah622tSpTCmu2jKlcTmZkO8m0xlEnXd8eI2fDq8aGwcbb42HjVT/s320/tempcowboypic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Canadians are some of the most caring, giving people on the
planet. This past Sunday, my Italian Greyhound “Cowboy” escaped the house and made a
run for it. Sunday here was 35 degrees Celsius and was dry as a desert. My wife and I spent hours
searching the surrounding forest with no results. The worst part
was that Cowboy had a leash on and I was very afraid he would get caught on
something and die from the heat before we could find him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We started putting up signs and speaking to people in the
area but I felt truly helpless. Cowboy could be hit by a car, die of the heat,
or be stolen because “iggys” are very expensive. But the people we met made me
feel better about these things. People were kind and attentive and truly
interested in Cowboy's welfare. The next day, as we continued the search, people
we didn’t know asked us how the search was going and told us they were telling
friends to keep an eye out. My daughter hit twitter and was retweeted dozens of times.
People started sending emails asking about Cowboy. It was amazing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEhtJluCrewEaZo2JkAvlm95RIV6u5CqhEBCcRe5ca-6rUWBPmakurGoZ6T9L9GZpkpbNOBwAmoWEV2Z2uWXZbJb6gnEjxMtKIItzHVTLTn_rvT4P3OsKjFc00tqpYqYvLU2BrBEe-jy_/s1600/cowboydog.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEhtJluCrewEaZo2JkAvlm95RIV6u5CqhEBCcRe5ca-6rUWBPmakurGoZ6T9L9GZpkpbNOBwAmoWEV2Z2uWXZbJb6gnEjxMtKIItzHVTLTn_rvT4P3OsKjFc00tqpYqYvLU2BrBEe-jy_/s320/cowboydog.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now for the good news. On Monday I said a little prayer to
figure out where to put the next set of posters and I put them 3 kms away on
the bus stops. At 4 pm I got a call from a young man and his father saying
their neighbours had found a dog in their pool shed. I asked where it was and
they said it was about three kms away! The lovely lady had told the guys and they
went out, found a poster, and called me. They drove over and led me to the
house and there was my little buddy, tired but very happy to see me. The people
were as excited as I was to see our reunion and they were just glad it all
worked out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day I received a phone call from a lady from
Kemptville. It’s a lovely town about 45 minutes from Ottawa. She had heard
about us from Facebook and was calling to see if we had found him yet. She was
elated and said she had a group of friends praying for Cowboy's return. These
are complete strangers whose only reason to care was the love they have for
animals and people. In a world where people seem more and more unfriendly and isolated, it
seems that when the chips are down people are really waiting to show they care.
Ottawa continues to be an example for the rest of the country when it comes to
donations and volunteerism. I am proud to be counted as one of them. By the way:
Cowboy has promised not to run away again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yeah right; Hah!</div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-71774939958194844612012-07-20T15:20:00.002-07:002012-07-20T15:20:28.894-07:00Travelling Canada: the best way to meet this country<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizs63LKvgnYYA7eAwqPeGPBrc7fLcF8SpFEpIIMHkxXiJrwV9rfh2lq-hn3kJ6izlGCGgNi-PqfxthL1j80K-HVy7y-o9ZQsWoGwfv6V_Bm0XIc_k2mMUqlUcvXOi2h52dI4urfWNy6mhg/s1600/Novascotia2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">CROSS-CANADA TREKKING</span></a></h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZE9VqeNtyU0WI2ISur5_CzjiF8Kn8GWcIu_qGFZ_988Xa2nHofrF2FzziKJRBi21Cx0q6nN9RKic9nDhuzvKf0GEHnoG37JklgOpXMoITtLR4b6XzCb7iVU27G_J1jTIv8BEICo6rrsGQ/s1600/Novascotia1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZE9VqeNtyU0WI2ISur5_CzjiF8Kn8GWcIu_qGFZ_988Xa2nHofrF2FzziKJRBi21Cx0q6nN9RKic9nDhuzvKf0GEHnoG37JklgOpXMoITtLR4b6XzCb7iVU27G_J1jTIv8BEICo6rrsGQ/s200/Novascotia1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son-in-law and daughter at Chase's Lobsters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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My family and I just came back from a drive to Nova Scotia. We saw some
amazing things and met some wonderful people. We went to Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick, home of
the world’s highest tides and some of the most beautiful rock formations in the
world. We toured PEI and swam at Cavendish Beach. We toured Jost Wineries near Pugwash
on the North shore. We ate fresh lobster from Chase’s Lobster Pound. We drove
through some of the most beautiful farms you will ever see in Quebec. We saw the Gulf
of St Lawrence from our vantage point in Riviere de Loup. The
whole expedition was amazing.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskRMLpz-yQouFAwWv54OCA2_xHhs9OO5ExLQdES3gj8QvWbUXRPkzkim5zC_-bT39JkcWz1Dx7cCOPFRHluzuwrA6Og_xu0L_ncuusYzY7rLHFV71z2hlu6tF2sEVLvFbrSub_WEmCId0/s1600/Novascotia2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskRMLpz-yQouFAwWv54OCA2_xHhs9OO5ExLQdES3gj8QvWbUXRPkzkim5zC_-bT39JkcWz1Dx7cCOPFRHluzuwrA6Og_xu0L_ncuusYzY7rLHFV71z2hlu6tF2sEVLvFbrSub_WEmCId0/s320/Novascotia2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hopewell Rocks, NB, and my son.</td></tr>
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You know what is kind of sad, though, is how many Canadians
have never done a trip like this. Whether it’s driving to Stewart B.C. and
feeling the temperature drop 20 degrees as you stand beside the Bear Glacier,
or watching a rain storm race towards you on the prairies—a storm that was so
delineated, it gets the back of your car wet and not the front as you outrun
it. Or how about a soak in the hot springs at the Banff Springs Hotel, or watching
your decent along the ocean as you fly into Vancouver. </div>
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<br /></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">CROSS-CANADA APPRECIATION </span></h4>
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To see Canada
is to truly start to understand what it is to be Canadian. I have an idea to help
our youth understand what we have: I suggest that each college or university
student that finishes their degree with an ‘A’ be rewarded with a one-month
Canadian travel pass; they could travel by Via Rail or commercial bus line with
the express idea of being introduced to this great land. Might even bring up
the national grade averages! These young adults would come back with a better
understanding of the people and places that make up the greatest country the
world has ever known. What do you think? And if you like this idea, then share
this blog and let’s get people talking.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbQYsCCJeEfrEpYzYMRSKFCFZgtwWEXMD8OdbOul6k9njfry8d_jtSW4jrN2ig5Rfk6Hguo-dAE7kh-KhgH0DVY9_60qWqRezDeznbki8fTmkjpnmrxob7mMzc9wOyz6jbUPQMJsPrUzj/s1600/Novascotia3.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbQYsCCJeEfrEpYzYMRSKFCFZgtwWEXMD8OdbOul6k9njfry8d_jtSW4jrN2ig5Rfk6Hguo-dAE7kh-KhgH0DVY9_60qWqRezDeznbki8fTmkjpnmrxob7mMzc9wOyz6jbUPQMJsPrUzj/s400/Novascotia3.tif" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-13061798611916389022012-07-06T09:23:00.002-07:002012-07-06T09:23:15.541-07:00Canadian Fathers: a Profile of My Own Dad.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
CANADIANS LOVE FATHERS.</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4ryn9abe5avgvcWareKLau3RrPgOPt4HgLOhWEzu6PcxhUXZgJpTHo136U3zjP-NKDNfU8Wso17N7VdvKixZNnyLob7Fg9PCpPX__i7VQZmNIDY5fY0UsyY2Du0J4I8RK6p1kdLURWYW/s1600/dad+walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4ryn9abe5avgvcWareKLau3RrPgOPt4HgLOhWEzu6PcxhUXZgJpTHo136U3zjP-NKDNfU8Wso17N7VdvKixZNnyLob7Fg9PCpPX__i7VQZmNIDY5fY0UsyY2Du0J4I8RK6p1kdLURWYW/s320/dad+walk.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking my daughter down the aisle.</td></tr>
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What is a father? I have struggled with that definition all
my life. My father was a great influence in my life even though we barely had
any real time together. But I do believe that he influenced me in many ways.
When my brother died at the age of four from leukemia, both my parents never
really recovered personally, nor in their relationship. But I do know that his
teaching to me was clear and concise in the brief moments we talked. My dad was
far from perfect but I chose to listen to the good things and I will be forever
grateful that I did.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, as a father of two grown adults, I have come to see
the fruits of my fathers’ teaching. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First of all, he taught me to accept that there is only one captain
in my life when it comes to steering its direction. God gives us the free will
to do what we want with it, be it good or bad. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He told me that the course of my life will not always be
simple or easy, and that if it was I would never learn to be tough enough to
make the hard decisions. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said “Sometimes
life sucks and it’s up to you how you deal with it”. He told me to hold doors
for people as a sign of respect. He said to dress for success. “Whether you’re
the prime minister or a ditch digger, dress for the job and dress clean”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He told me once that if there ever was trouble and he had to
choose between me and saving my mom, then mom came first. He said with her help
I could be replaced. I knew he was kidding, but it made me feel that he valued
my mom above all else. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTYggC8tekc5e9bZ8qEfqrXbaygSkDOafV0WCjN2MH5I1Eja9SnUbauH0GrjL7XieRlxOU-ZaiXXmwE1LJkzcFhXVy4KB2sI8EkR9paCOWvosvlDTgyUpnk-_9SUucY6Sjg70t1nCR1wk/s1600/dad+smile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTYggC8tekc5e9bZ8qEfqrXbaygSkDOafV0WCjN2MH5I1Eja9SnUbauH0GrjL7XieRlxOU-ZaiXXmwE1LJkzcFhXVy4KB2sI8EkR9paCOWvosvlDTgyUpnk-_9SUucY6Sjg70t1nCR1wk/s320/dad+smile.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proud Dad. (photo by <a href="http://photosbyadampap.com/" target="_blank">Adam Pap</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Be the best friend you can even when those around you do
not follow such beliefs.” “What goes around comes around so if you’re going to
spend your life hurling crap at people you better be ready to duck.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Why play a game if
you can’t win or lose? Where is the learning about life in that?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were many other sayings and each one was taken to
heart as I grew to understand them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, I try and follow the many rules both my parents gave
me. I am teaching my children and others these time-honoured values in the hope
that it will make their journey honourable, if not easy. I also learned from my
dad’s sad mistakes in life. You see, he also taught me to learn from the
mistakes of those before us. Mistakes I do not tend to duplicate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0I5jfE19dVXXS2BSTYnChLXUHnVWFVogmObHLiJk6C_cqLTMFUaD9krwcduZEIgjaW_OWwjJLhPiR8xMn8zT1f-PpDFJGSU6tt64MZEwyaCRzRRCrGXtpod8K90deZ-fB10VqqMEwTJFY/s1600/dad+mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0I5jfE19dVXXS2BSTYnChLXUHnVWFVogmObHLiJk6C_cqLTMFUaD9krwcduZEIgjaW_OWwjJLhPiR8xMn8zT1f-PpDFJGSU6tt64MZEwyaCRzRRCrGXtpod8K90deZ-fB10VqqMEwTJFY/s320/dad+mom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My lovely wife.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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When my dad passed away, we were leaving his apartment for
the last time and two ladies stopped me to ask if I was his son. They said to
me, “Your father was always a gentleman, and in all the time we had known him
he had never said a bad thing about anyone”. Not a bad epitaph for any man. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was these things that helped shape my life. Of course, I
could have chosen to ignore his words but that would have been a foolish waste
of life full of lessons.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, I think he would say to children having trouble
relating or even loving their fathers, to look for the good in him. And if you
cannot find the good, then don’t duplicate the bad...because that would be the
last thing your dad would want.</div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-55459231874537847372012-06-29T04:18:00.001-07:002012-06-29T04:18:19.428-07:00Canadians & Canada Day<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Canadians love Canada Day! It’s our chance to howl to the
world that Canada
is the greatest country in the world. As I sit with my family in a home that my
parents could only dream of, I realize how truly blessed we are. Today I heard a
stat about the Ottawa Police. Out of tens of thousands of incident calls, the
police only had to actually discharge their weapons 43 times--and that was to
put down injured animals. No humans were fired upon. This of course is a
testament to the skills of the Ottawa
police, but it is also a testament to the people of Canada and our society. </div>
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<br /></div>
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We can drink our water straight from a tap. We can eat our
produce in safety. We can walk the streets at night and not be afraid. We can
marry who we want, live where we want without government intervention,
demonstrate on any issue and not be shot, and vote in our representation
without fearing for your life. We have the cleanest air, the most fresh water
lakes, and every type of climatic zone (except jungle) you can think of to
enjoy. If you go to the Canada Day celebration on Parliament Hill, you will see a hundred
thousand faces of every race, creed, and colour. Each one celebrating the fact
they are Canadian.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It is this great celebration that reminds us how wonderful Canada is and
how much we need to stand and protect this land. It is Canadians who are
ultimately responsible for this country and Canada Day reminds us of what is at
stake. God Bless Canada
and her people. Be safe out there and hug a Canadian!</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWcYlObMuL6eD3J268Mf7LDP9BPkl4nYtTZ-Cd-uEHumIlnJhb7o3Ha71-KEylwBvpuIaFSrxpYGh7ELO4gzpQ0M1A5QrNXBS05XqROz8nj4SfZ-i3p-LIIGVMF2xvqhmxXnP-u7tKBYx/s1600/red+day+troop+support+day+ottawa.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWcYlObMuL6eD3J268Mf7LDP9BPkl4nYtTZ-Cd-uEHumIlnJhb7o3Ha71-KEylwBvpuIaFSrxpYGh7ELO4gzpQ0M1A5QrNXBS05XqROz8nj4SfZ-i3p-LIIGVMF2xvqhmxXnP-u7tKBYx/s400/red+day+troop+support+day+ottawa.tif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Bill Kent</td></tr>
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<br /></div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-60728993719931929832012-06-21T16:32:00.002-07:002012-06-22T04:31:15.861-07:00Toronto Misses The Mark: Banning Bullets.<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">CANADIANS LOVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY. </span></h3>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s4.hubimg.com/u/5421727_f520.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://s4.hubimg.com/u/5421727_f520.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oops, looks like a hurricane...better grab my TOWEL.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Canadians love the concept of personal responsibility. If you
rob a bank you don’t want to say to your cellmate that it’s your mother’s fault
you turned out bad. Things will end badly for you. In the movies we love to
hear the hero say “Cowboy up whiner!” or “Stand up and be a man!” Yet it seems
that we are becoming a nation poisoned by excuseitis. We blame parents,
teachers, bosses, anyone but ourselves for our problems. We have even started
to blame inanimate objects for our mistakes. I was down in Florida on vacation with the kids. We went
to the beach and there was a booth selling souvenirs. I picked up this towel
and on it was a large tag with a safety warning. I am not kidding, it said “DO
NOT USE AS COVER DURING HURRICANE”. No joke! But the real joke is what this tag
really meant. It meant that some idiot used one of these towels as cover during
a hurricane! Then rather than accepting responsibility for his own actions he
sued the towel company for damages and they were forced to put this stupid tag on.
One more thing that should shock is that some judge agreed with the plaintiff.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">TORONTO MISSES THE MARK: BANNING BULLETS </span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://evansheline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/guns-kill-people.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://evansheline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/guns-kill-people.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://evansheline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/guns-kill-people.jpg" target="_blank">ATTENTION: THIS IS IN JEST. STAY CALM. <br />(source)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now in Toronto
there is an action starting to outlaw bullets within city limits. There have
been a number of terrible shootings involving illegal handguns and gang
violence. Now the authorities cannot stop the steady flow of illegal weapons
reaching the gangs, so how can the police stop anyone carrying a bullet? Why
would they want to? You still need the illegal firearm before you can fire the
bullet. Yet there are people in Toronto
who support stopping registered firearm owners from buying perfectly legal
ammunition. That’s right. Gang members would have to be registered PAL licence
holders to buy ammunition. Do you believe that gang members legally buy
ammunition with a PAL licence? Sure if you believe gang members lined up to
register their illegal handguns and automatic weapons before committing a
crime. But the authorities need to be seen to be doing something so they try
bans and registries. This goes back to passing the buck. You can’t blame the
gang member so blame the inanimate object and create useless law that changes
the lives of honest Canadians. Let’s say the bylaw passed. I can hear the gang
leader now. “Well, we were going to have a gang war but I couldn’t buy ammo at
the store. So we threw our illegal handguns into Lake Ontario
and gave up our evil ways!” It’s laughable. They will just buy bullets from the
guys who supplied the illegal guns. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If we continue to blame others or the inanimate objects
around us for our woes we will never remove the real problems. Like poverty,
family issues, cultural mores, poor education and the lack of teaching on
personal accountability. That’s right Canadians lets bring back that thing we
used to love so much: personal accountability. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
What do you think?</h4>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-38650943673172469132012-06-16T06:21:00.003-07:002012-06-16T06:21:59.414-07:00Canadians and Gasoline: a mental exercise<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Canadians like a fair price for a fair product. Its not that
we are tight-fisted, but we do like to shop around. That is why we get so
frustrated with gas prices. Where is the competition? Have you ever wondered
why gas prices are at $1.20 or so in Canada and the price of oil is at
$80 barrel, yet there seems to be no competition? To get the right answer you
have to ask the right questions. Now I am not going to answer the questions. Because
as the saying goes, “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion
still.” That is why you must come to the answer yourself. Here we go….</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">ASK YOURSELF ABOUT OIL PRICES: </span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who owns the oil reserves?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who owns the pumping stations and pipelines?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who owns the oil tankers?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who owns, and controls the number of oil refineries?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who owns the oil storage?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who owns the gas tanker contracts?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who owns the gas stations?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who owns the speculators who drive the prices up on the mere
speculation of trouble in the world or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">good</i>
in the world? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who tells you there is no more oil (remember the 70’s), only
to magically find more?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who tells you that the combustion engine has reached its
maximum efficiency only to come out with cars that do 50 mpg?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who tells you a lack of refineries is the problem, even
though it’s has been decades since new ones have been built in number?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who raises the price of oil as cars become more efficient to
keep profits high?</div>
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Who keeps telling you there is no conspiracy to price fix
the price of gas?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Here’s a hint. There is only one answer. Now if one group
controls the oil then any excuse will do because not only do they control the
system, they also control all the excuses. So the next time a fly farts in Brazil
and the price of gas goes up you will know why.</div>
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<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="color: #990000;">
What do you think?</h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="color: #990000;">
Comment below, send an email; share your thoughts! </h4>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-26402082218876473072012-06-12T06:12:00.001-07:002012-06-12T06:15:25.579-07:00Canadians Love Dogs & Cats.<span style="color: #990000;">FURRED CANADIANS: WE LOVE OUR PETS. </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-Sr3A0gzeYJwtOei2aLiWSITV7M3QNonTQqXHerz7uM91QZG-cVA1q10XdEToewwE5YDm0jTJ1Eo3_X7urcEFAdSYoeOhnWTcX6ZjgGsgsduufh8gMIfRjlTxJxXMqQrvcRs7GoQbMuJ/s1600/puppies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-Sr3A0gzeYJwtOei2aLiWSITV7M3QNonTQqXHerz7uM91QZG-cVA1q10XdEToewwE5YDm0jTJ1Eo3_X7urcEFAdSYoeOhnWTcX6ZjgGsgsduufh8gMIfRjlTxJxXMqQrvcRs7GoQbMuJ/s320/puppies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't LOVE puppies?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Canadians love dogs and cats. Big dogs, little cats, little dogs, and cats so fat the calico ones look like monster versions of those summertime black and orange caterpillars. Dogs with jaws that could crush a sledge hammer, cats with one eye that have the hunting skills of a panther, dogs with stringers of drool you could skip with, we love them all! Dogs are part of our heritage. We conquered the north with them. Dogs protect us, work for us, but most importantly they love us. That may be why we love them. They love and understand the misunderstood Canadian.
<br />
<br />
Cats don’t love <i>us</i>; they simply allow us to serve them. We brush them, feed them, and love them, and in return they deem to share their/our home with them. On the upside I understand they make excellent eggrolls. (Just kidding…really). Cats are killers. They hunt not for food but for the thrill of the kill. So whether it’s the neighbour's escaped canary or your old sock, it’s hunting it down that thrills them. Ever watch a non-hunting dog catch a bird or a squirrel? It's like the first time you have to eat an oyster. You know it's supposed to be good but it just feels so damn weird! Cats, on the other hand, will bring you a decapitated mouse and stare at you like you’re an idiot if you don’t eat this fine meal that he deems to share with you.
Canadians love their dogs and cats.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="color: #990000;">
<b>What do you think?</b></h4>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-26799838638652149572012-06-07T19:14:00.001-07:002012-06-07T19:14:07.032-07:00The Cyclist Agenda: when laws get bent.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Ordinary_bicycle01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Ordinary_bicycle01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Ordinary_bicycle01.jpg" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">CANADIANS BELIEVE IN THEIR LAWS; YES, EVEN FOR CYCLISTS. </span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Canadians are fierce believers in the law. You steal from
someone and you go to jail. It’s simple and fair. But Canadians are growing
impatient with the unfair application of our laws. Let’s use an example we all
understand. According to the Ontario Traffic Act, bicycles are accorded the
same rights and privileges as a motorized vehicle. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is also a list of <a href="http://www.mto.gov.on.ca./" target="_blank">laws and fines</a> for each transgression. The ones in red
(posted at the end of this post) I see broken on a daily basis: that’s over 50%
of the laws in this section. I travel approximately 14 kms to work. I’m dead serious; I see these laws broken every
day and yet in 39 years and over 2.5 million kms of driving I have never seen a
single police officer giving a ticket to a cyclist. Not one. If cars did this
on a daily basis there would be total chaos. Also, if a car hits a cyclist,
they are deemed responsible whether the accident was the driver’s fault or not.
That means it’s in the best interest of drivers to have these laws applied.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">ABSURDITY FROM THE POLICE: CYCLISTS GO UNTICKETED. </span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last week our local police announced something that should
shock all drivers: cyclists will not be fined if caught cycling while talking
on a cell phone. Here is a simple question that might point out the danger of
such folly: Is it safer to drive a car with one hand, or a bike with one hand?
Forget the phone itself for the moment. Which is more dangerous? It’s basic
physics. A car has four wheels, so a car is more stable; the proof is in the millions
of people who drive a standard. Driving a bike, in traffic, with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">one hand</i>, on Ottawa’s goat-path roads,
is a death sentence. Now let’s add in the cell phone. It is considered so
dangerous to drive a car with one that new laws have been written with steep
fines. Millions are spent on advertizing against it. Socially you are considered
a fool to do this. Does anyone believe that bikers are safer than cars while
using a cell phone? </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blogs.995themountain.com/files/2010/04/textingwhilecycling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://blogs.995themountain.com/files/2010/04/textingwhilecycling.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah, the perfect photo. <a href="http://blogs.995themountain.com/files/2010/04/textingwhilecycling.jpg" target="_blank">Source.</a><span id="goog_19639758"></span><span id="goog_19639759"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet our police have told us that they will not fine cyclists.
If bikes are the same as cars according to the law, then why the difference in
enforcement? Why do our police acknowledge the existence of a law and yet
choose not to enforce it? It’s simple: they are told not to. Our leaders have
agendas that are affected by the application of the law. Whether it’s cycling
laws or the ridiculous anti-smoking bylaws recently enforced here in Ottawa, the
law is either too problematic to enforce or does not fit their agenda. Ottawa Councillors
want more bikes on the road, so don’t scare cyclists off by giving them tickets
and asking them to follow the law! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Canadians want equal and fair application of the law. They
do not want laws bent or ignored because of who you are or what agenda is being
pushed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red;">What do you think?</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
APPENDIX: THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT: BICYCLE LAWS</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>144/136 - Traffic signals and signs</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Stop for red lights and stop signs and comply with all other signs.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Set fine: $85.00</span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>153 - One-ways streets</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Ride in the designated direction on one-way streets.<strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> Set fine: $85.00</span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>147 - Slow moving traffic travel on
right side</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Any vehicle moving slower than the normal traffic speed should drive
in the right-hand lane, or as close as practicable to the right edge of the
road except when preparing to turn left or when passing another vehicle.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Set fine: $85.00</span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>142 - Signalling a turn</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Before turning, look behind you and signal your turn. Cyclists can
use their right arm to signal a right turn.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Set fine: $85.00</span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>140(1) 144(29) - Crosswalks</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Yield or stop for pedestrians at crosswalks.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Set fine: $85.00</span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>140(6)/144(29) - No riding in
crosswalks</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Walk your bike when crossing at a crosswalk.<strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> Set fine: $85.00</span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>166 - Streetcars</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Stop two metres behind streetcar doors and wait until passengers
have boarded or departed and reached the curb.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Set fine: $85.00</span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>175 (12) - Stopped school buses</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Stop for stopped school buses when the upper alternating red lights
are flashing.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Set fine: $400.00</span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>62(17) - Lights</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">A bike must have a white front light and a red rear light or
reflector if you ride between 1/2 hour before sunset and 1/2 hour after sunrise
and white reflective tape on the front forks and red reflective tape on rear forks.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Set fine: $20.00</span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>75 (5) - Bell</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">A bike must have a bell or horn in good working order.<strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> Set fine: $85.00</span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>64(3) - Brakes</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">A bike must have at least one brake system on the rear wheel. When
you put on the brakes, you should be able to skid on dry, level pavement.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Set fine: $85.00</span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>218 - Identification</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Cyclists must stop and identify themselves when required to stop
by police for breaking traffic laws. The police officer will ask you for your
correct name and address.<strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">
Set fine: $85.00</span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Reg.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>630
- Expressways</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Bicycles are prohibited on expressway / freeway highways such
as the 400 series, the QEW, Ottawa Queensway and on roads where "No
Bicycle" signs are posted.<strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">
Set fine: $85.00</span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>178(2) - Passengers</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Passengers are not allowed on a bicycle designed for one person.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Set fine: $85.00</span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>178(1) - Attaching to a vehicle</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">You are not permitted to attach yourself to the outside of another
vehicle or streetcar for the purpose of "hitching a ride."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Set fine: $85.00</span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>104 - Helmets</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Every cyclist under the age of eighteen must wear an approved
bicycle helmet. Parents or guardians shall not knowingly permit cyclists under
sixteen to ride without a helmet.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Set fine: $60.00</span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">HTA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>179 - Dismounted bicyclist</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Cyclists
are required to ride on the right-hand side of the road. If you are walking
your bike on a highway where there are no sidewalks, you are considered a
pedestrian and you should walk on the left-hand side of the road facing
traffic. If it is not safe for you to cross the road to face traffic, you may
walk your bike on the right-hand side of the road.<strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> Set fine: $35.00.</span></strong></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: #E8EBE8; line-height: 16.8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">For more information on the
rules of use for these types of vehicles, please visit<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/"><span style="color: #176178;">www.mto.gov.on.ca</span></a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-55977954152330841122012-06-04T03:20:00.000-07:002012-06-04T03:20:00.111-07:00Canadian Money Pits: Green Programs<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
CANADIANS ARE PRACTICAL.</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Buy the right tool once. Winter
tires are a way of sorting the practical from the dull-witted. Canadians are
always looking for a deal because we realize that there is a limited amount of
money in the account. That is why Canadians get so upset when the government, at
any level, does not take our practicality with money into account.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-kL64YW5q7KzozPwCrb-KKXZXII8Ar1TzE5ZFpiReF7nlEeqsJuD7TUrAFAuxODVRmJGPHmPoOWwsYPoUQaUBqiSAIVaPie0klFicoxJNfb54UaOGjXay67aButTRJDDc64OrQbUWQ3E/s1600/ID-10051262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-kL64YW5q7KzozPwCrb-KKXZXII8Ar1TzE5ZFpiReF7nlEeqsJuD7TUrAFAuxODVRmJGPHmPoOWwsYPoUQaUBqiSAIVaPie0klFicoxJNfb54UaOGjXay67aButTRJDDc64OrQbUWQ3E/s320/ID-10051262.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/agree-terms.php?id=10051262" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">THE GREEN BIN PROGRAM: A COMPOSTABLE MONEY PIT </span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is a classic example. Here in Ottawa, Canada's capital, we have been forced
by the municipal and provincial government to recycle kitchen waste. We are
told that this is to slow down the filling of our local landfill. Now, ignore
the fact that less than 5% of our garbage is pork chop bones and coffee grinds.
Ignore fact that the only true biodegradable garbage is kitchen waste and it
actually aids in the breakdown process in the <i>landfill</i>. Forget that the people
of our city have been trapped into a multimillion-dollar, 20 year contract to
dispose of kitchen scraps, with a quota (by volume) that we cannot possibly meet. Forget that
the city is paying 20 times the disposal rate for yard waste by blending both
wastes and they still cannot reach that quota. Go back to the initial reason
for the project: we want to keep our landfill from filling up. Here is the
problem: the landfill takes shipments from other cities! The Councillors
answer: cut back on garbage pickup, and without even cutting the fees to citizens.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">PRACTICAL ISN'T POLITICAL. </span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.metronews.topscms.com/images/ba/a7/e5bc35b64f12bb4a60cf412a1cf9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://media.metronews.topscms.com/images/ba/a7/e5bc35b64f12bb4a60cf412a1cf9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.metronews.topscms.com/images/ba/a7/e5bc35b64f12bb4a60cf412a1cf9.jpeg" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our roads are goat paths; our premier tourist area is filthy
and full of drug addicts; we are flooding our sewage directly into our water
supply; and we are still spending tens of millions on recycling pork chop
bones? We have an obtrusive bike lane recently painted into the core of downtown--a lane that two thousand taxpayers signed a
petition to get rid of--and the only thing I heard a Councillor respond with, “I
like riding my bike there.” What?! Do you know how hard it is to get <i>two thousand</i> people
to sign anything? This bike lane has caused traffic problems and safety issues, and is putting businesses along the street in peril because customers can't park, yet City Hall refuses to deal with the petition. I would say Ottawa is upset, and no one is listening!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Living in this city
is like living in a house with a caved-in roof, and your spouse spends the roof
money on a new Porsche. And worse yet, s/he doesn’t see what the problem is! If the Councillors would just face the real issues, move the money from their money-sucking projects and spend it wisely, our city would be sparkling for the 150<sup>th</sup>
anniversary of Canada.
We could be a place that the people of the world would remember and come back
to. In my city, it seems the remains of pork chops are more important. </div>
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<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
What do
you think? Comment below or send us an email!</h3>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-88193333424576618562012-05-24T20:08:00.003-07:002012-05-24T20:09:36.111-07:00Tough One Fridays: Immigrants in Canada<i>Tough One Fridays are a chance to talk about how we define Canadian--on the really tough topics. These are more controversial, polarized topics; share your thoughts in the comment section below.</i> <br />
<br />
<h3 style="color: #990000;">
TOUGH ONE FRIDAYS: THE RECIPE FOR CANADA</h3>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/009001/f1/a010254-vx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/009001/f1/a010254-vx.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/009001/f1/a010254-vx.jpg" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Canadians love legal immigrants. Canada is the greatest country in the world, and because of this we expect the best to want to immigrate here. We love success stories of people<br />
who have come here with nothing in their pocket but a dream. Hard work along with a determination to become Canadian makes great stories. Stories that Canadians love<br />
to brag about to the world! One side of my family came over during the Irish Potato Famine. It was at a time when the Irish were treated quite poorly yet my family worked<br />
hard, volunteered in three of our wars, and learned what it is like to be Canadian without losing their Irish heritage. Now everyone claims their Irish heritage, especially on St Patrick’s Day.<br />
<br />
Conversely, Canadians hate cheats. It doesn't matter whether it’s a politician, an athlete, or an illegal immigrant. Consider an engineering student who cheats on their exams: you don’t think much of it until you realize you are driving on the bridge they<br />
helped design! A friend of mine says it this way, “A chocolate cake without chocolate ain’t chocolate cake." There is a recipe to making Canada and it has made us the greatest country to live in. That recipe is why people want to be Canadians. However, when you throw in things that are contrary to that recipe, you affect the 'cake'. What are these damaging 'ingredients'? Drugs, gangs, historical hatreds from the old country, or a lack of understanding that we believe in equality: these things will poison the cake.<br />
<br />
The good thing about our recipe is that it's flexible. When good things are brought into the <br />
country, we get to choose what improves our cake. That is why people from all over the<br />
world blend in. Can you picture Canada without Italians, Germans, Chinese, Lebanese or<br />
Irish? That would not be Canada. So the secret is this: make sure the ingredients improve the<br />
cake and keep the bad stuff out; then enjoy the cake!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.soics.ca/managed-media/Employer_Toolkit/immigrant_employees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://www.soics.ca/managed-media/Employer_Toolkit/immigrant_employees.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.soics.ca/managed-media/Employer_Toolkit/immigrant_employees.jpg" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #990000;">Share your thoughts below!</span></h3>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-44262803385636199052012-05-15T19:48:00.000-07:002012-05-15T19:48:01.441-07:00The Great Outdoors: Where Canadians Find Greatness<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">THE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE: OUTDOOR EXTREMES </span></h3>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Dining_fly_%28tent%29.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Dining_fly_%28tent%29.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They forgot to draw in the bear. <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dining_fly_%28tent%29.png" target="_blank"><i>source</i></a></td></tr>
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Canadians love the outdoors. We love camping in the
wilderness in triangular taco-like tents, daring grizzly bears and cougars to
try out the chewy middle. We think that’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fun</i>.
We play hockey in -40*C at 5:00am, and wonder why everyone doesn’t do it. We
sit in leaky boats in the November rain for a single opportunity to fire a handheld
cannon at some unsuspecting duck. And when we bag nothing, we are still happy
because it’s the experience that counts—yes, that experience of slow death by
exposure. Our kids go to school in shorts and a tee in February, and they think
it’s normal! We love the outdoors.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I remember one October night in particular, sitting with my
mother-in-law in the pitch black at Centennial Lake. We watched the Northern
Lights for hours as they swirled against the perfect backdrop of the Milky Way.
No one cared that it was -10*C; it was a magical moment. We will brave
mosquitos that could sink an aircraft carrier just for the chance at catching a
large-mouth bass. We will swim in water so cold that it would be a heart-stopping
experience for lesser mortals. We will play tennis in +40*C and consider it
good training. Heck, women wear four-inch heels on ice-covered sidewalks and
still pull off a confident strut! Canadians rock the outdoors and in return,
the outdoors makes us Canadian. </div>
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What do you think?</h3>
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Comment below or email! </h3>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-16745073843557625202012-05-12T12:16:00.003-07:002012-05-12T12:16:35.549-07:00Tough One Fridays: Honesty and Policy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Rogue_Wallet_-_Front_Pocket_Wallet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Rogue_Wallet_-_Front_Pocket_Wallet.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://by%20wellingtonm%20%28own%20work%29%20[cc-by-sa-3.0%20%28www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0%29%5D,%20via%20Wikimedia%20Commons" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">TOUGH ONE FRIDAYS</span> </h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think I am going to call Friday posts “Tough One Fridays”.
Let’s bring up the controversial topics so we can use the weekend to think and
discuss ideas. Here goes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">DEFINING CANADIANS: HONESTY AS POLICY </span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Canadians are honest and we naturally expect honesty from
others. I have always been amazed at how many times I have seen people pick up
a dropped cell phone, money, or wallet and return it to the owner—or at least
work like heck to find out who the owner is. I think that’s the problem with today’s
election system: we elect someone to office and we honestly believe that they
will follow through with the promises they make to get elected. Then they say, “I
am your voice for the next three to five years, and what the party says is law.”
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For my entire life my word has meant everything. My wife,
children, brother, and sisters act the same way. It has not always been easy
but I sleep well at night. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet today’s
politicians make an art out of obfuscation. They say following the party line is
the only way to assure inclusion in the power loop. Well, I did not give them
my vote for the power loop; I gave them my vote to be honest and to represent
the wishes of their constituents.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">POLICY VS POLITICS </span></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Ballot_box_current.svg/100px-Ballot_box_current.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Ballot_box_current.svg/100px-Ballot_box_current.svg.png" width="242" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I believe that this is the reason people stopped voting. Why
would you be interested in people who lie to get in, do things that make no
financial or moral sense, and ignore their constituents? And if I hear one more
time that I can vote them out in four years again, I’ll scream. A ton of damage
can be done in four years. Just look at Ontario’s
finances!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So here is my premise. Canadians are honest and want honesty
to represent them. The lack of such leaders has made people believe that there
is no difference between voting and not voting. Canadians crave that honest
hero that will buck the party line and do the right thing no matter what the
cost. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
What’s your opinion? Comment below or <a href="mailto:canadiandefined@gmail.com" target="_blank">email</a>! </h3>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03654454425686408063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-80917358510088651552012-05-10T04:08:00.001-07:002012-05-10T04:10:18.667-07:00Defining: Poutine, Canada's greatest culinary creation<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Poutine.JPG/702px-Poutine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Poutine.JPG/702px-Poutine.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fries. Gravy. Cheese. Repeat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">POUTINE: THE GREAT CANADIAN FOOD EXPERIENCE</span> </h3>
<br />
What do Canadians think of Poutine? Poutine is the greatest culinary creation ever given <br />
to us by our Quebecois brothers. There is no treat finer than piping hot, home-cut french<br />
fries, covered in squeaky, fresh white cheese curds, and steaming dark brown gravy to melt the<br />
cheese 'til it gently clings to each crispy fry. Use soft fries, non squeaky curds, or cold gravy, and you effectively spell doom for the dish, and bring shame to the talentless moron who would defile the greatest meal since<br />
the hamburger.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thebestcakeshop.com/i/20120229-DSC_9943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.thebestcakeshop.com/i/20120229-DSC_9943.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poutine cake from <a href="http://thebestcakeshop.com/" target="_blank">The Cake Shop</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Canadians also know that poutine is only poutine when prepared as described, and no variance can be accepted as genuine. Any addition of such things as pulled pork, chilli, hot dogs, yellow curds, string fries, or<br />
friggin’ gummy bears is nothing short of an abomination! I believe that if a national vote was taken, every proud Canadian who has ever savoured a true poutine (by the way its pronounced pu tin not poo tine) will vote it as <i>the</i> penultimate Canadian junk food! What do you think, Canada?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Comment below!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979488088037933856.post-3758561998162566312012-05-08T16:16:00.004-07:002012-05-08T16:16:50.508-07:00Defining The Canadian: Where Do We Start?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/image.php?src=72145" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrWoMR_SYrcJGaNepXiJLyHRdxCdQli70ENYYzDPxCd0n2c3GjRlNPd6K6pd_-r73Uf-luXotlQl5R_DGVt8eqP6cc-qOoOixQJzWmsSIRaPY_FYZbPEA-AH2wzWH114P3xZRoTf2xw3R/s1600/free+flag+scratchy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrWoMR_SYrcJGaNepXiJLyHRdxCdQli70ENYYzDPxCd0n2c3GjRlNPd6K6pd_-r73Uf-luXotlQl5R_DGVt8eqP6cc-qOoOixQJzWmsSIRaPY_FYZbPEA-AH2wzWH114P3xZRoTf2xw3R/s320/free+flag+scratchy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">credit: Sippakorn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">A CONVERSATION ABOUT 'CANADIAN' </span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-indent: 36pt;">
So what’s this
blog all about? Well, I was having a conversation with some
friends about cultures around the world. We house foreign students and
we were discussing the differences
between their various cultures when
someone said, “Canadians don’t have a defined culture.” I took exception
to this because I am a proud Canadian. However, I had to admit that I
could not really describe what a Canadian is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-indent: 36pt;">
This blog is looking to answer that
question. What is a Canadian? What is it that makes us the greatest
country in the world? What do we believe? What do we think about the
world? What do we think of where we are going?
So, what I am going to do here on my blog is fire some ideas out there
and see how you feel. I want to keep this as unpolitical as possible
because I believe that Canadians want to
trust that each party does have the
health of the country at heart. However some things will feel political
because the big things we will talk about can affect the
entire country.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-indent: 36pt;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">HOW 'CANADIAN' WORKS </span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-indent: 36pt;">
Let’s use a couple of
simple examples. Canadians love food. They love all food and it matters
not what culture it comes from. This a very broad statement and it does
not fit everyone, but if you look around you
will be surprised by the diversity of restaurants we love. It is our
willingness to try different foods that
<i>is</i> our food culture. Of course we have roast beef and mashed
potatoes, barbequed salmon, and poutine; but we also have pierogies,
shawarma, and beavertails! That is what makes “our food” so terrific. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-indent: 36pt;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_lWbfQDSYTQxH2xCU56etfiX1hnkO97f5et5oJzrb5nWAO0jppPwaQsNdr9_dfhP76Jr0z6ZQCY1JumZ93j2GTdCmCsYzFF9bS6WcZyFYIZfAwiY0QnmrNxkIbxeVmAGLTBkocxOEnBW/s1600/stockimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_lWbfQDSYTQxH2xCU56etfiX1hnkO97f5et5oJzrb5nWAO0jppPwaQsNdr9_dfhP76Jr0z6ZQCY1JumZ93j2GTdCmCsYzFF9bS6WcZyFYIZfAwiY0QnmrNxkIbxeVmAGLTBkocxOEnBW/s320/stockimage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">credit: stockimage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-indent: 36pt;">
Now here is a tougher
idea. Canadians do not believe inanimate objects commit crimes. When was
the last time your Chevy went out on a bender and hit a telephone pole?
When was the last time your computer decided
to surf illegal sites? It seems like a simple concept: it takes a
person to make the decision to operate these things. However there are
people who believe that restricting the public’s access to these things
is the answer, not holding
the user responsible for his/her own decisions. I posit that Canadians believe the
<i>person</i> is accountable, not the car/car company/computer. But do you agree? These are the kind of things I hope people will discuss.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-indent: 36pt;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">SPEAK UP AND SHARE </span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-indent: 36pt;">
So whether we discuss music, language, multiculturalism, or the Macintosh apple
(a Canadian creation!), I hope people will
comment and say what they believe makes us Canadian. Tell us what
you think Canadians in general like, dislike, love; what will we fight
for, favourite things to do, and anything else you can think of. Pierre
Burton said you are a Canadian if you can
make love in a canoe (a singularly awkward experience, I can assure
you) but you have your own ideas and we would love to hear them. Let’s
keep it simple. This isn’t social studies class. So have fun!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-indent: 36pt;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="color: #cc0000;">
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What makes a Canadian truly
<i>Canadian?</i></h3>
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Comment below. Share your answers to this question. Together, perhaps we can define the Canadian.<i> </i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0