In the new year. Memories.
You know. I haven't written anything in such a long time that I forgot the password.
And in the time that it took to recover a new password. I forgot what I was going to write.
Aaah. Memories.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, November 25, 2006
More cannonades
New aiming point.
Once the TTC became the target of spirited writings.
Once a specific topic it looses potency.
Declining in priority.
A skyscraper beneath shadows
Of a great free standing tower.
Latent on the blog once written
Such a cannon specified its purpose.
Spiked in Roger’s wrath.
Passing air from its bore.
Moves sights to the armies of problems
Poised growing in the distance.
More powder.
More shot.
Light the torch.
The horde marchs toward us.
Again to the redoubt.
Stand against the new great adversary.
Fire away.
Fire away.
The great enemy comes.
The great enemy, Self Doubt.
Once the TTC became the target of spirited writings.
Once a specific topic it looses potency.
Declining in priority.
A skyscraper beneath shadows
Of a great free standing tower.
Latent on the blog once written
Such a cannon specified its purpose.
Spiked in Roger’s wrath.
Passing air from its bore.
Moves sights to the armies of problems
Poised growing in the distance.
More powder.
More shot.
Light the torch.
The horde marchs toward us.
Again to the redoubt.
Stand against the new great adversary.
Fire away.
Fire away.
The great enemy comes.
The great enemy, Self Doubt.
News from Marathon
Not in Greece.
Close to Hemlo.
Fours years a Dumas shines
In mayoral splendour.
Forever tough.
Forever rough.
Policies fated on long bender.
Will he give up his other businesses, legal or otherwise?
Close to Hemlo.
Fours years a Dumas shines
In mayoral splendour.
Forever tough.
Forever rough.
Policies fated on long bender.
Will he give up his other businesses, legal or otherwise?
Meech II - the Sequel "Under the covers"
A total sham. A shallow self serving political gambit bent on garnering Quebec votes rears its loathsome corpse yet again. The Canadian government, a minority parliament is agog with their self-righteous brilliance at coming to terms with Quebec. “A nation within a united Canada.” proclaims Steven Harper PM.
Gobblety gook. Lets call it for what it is. Let us flush this toilet again. This is Meech Lake II “Under the covers - the Sequel”.
Before in the political side show of Meech Lake I, the people of Canada had the right to vote, in a referendum, about this topic. People of Canada demand that right yet again.
Such demand has precedence. Every other time this concept suffered democratic scrutiny in a referendum. Every popular referendum inside and outside of Quebec to date refuted the idea that these MPs are proposing and legislating. This was not on any policy platform of any political party in the last election save one anti-federal collection of misfits. This proposal lacks sufferage.
Meech Lake II needs popular not short term special interest political approval. Make our day. Okay lets have a referendum - now.
Gobblety gook. Lets call it for what it is. Let us flush this toilet again. This is Meech Lake II “Under the covers - the Sequel”.
Before in the political side show of Meech Lake I, the people of Canada had the right to vote, in a referendum, about this topic. People of Canada demand that right yet again.
Such demand has precedence. Every other time this concept suffered democratic scrutiny in a referendum. Every popular referendum inside and outside of Quebec to date refuted the idea that these MPs are proposing and legislating. This was not on any policy platform of any political party in the last election save one anti-federal collection of misfits. This proposal lacks sufferage.
Meech Lake II needs popular not short term special interest political approval. Make our day. Okay lets have a referendum - now.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
The Gap
Gaps
A gap. Interesting word. I was very sick last week. Not as bad as before. Still. Its getting rather tedious. Missed a lot of blog entries. Of course there was nothing to write about.
But all this time was not wasted. At least I keep a computer at home and can do some work offline.
My shorts
Youth. Clearly such a thing is wasted on the youth.
********
Support the troops. Send Harper packing.
*******
David Miller says support him in the municipal election. Better he should buy a walker.
*******
Layton says leave Afghanistan. Afghanistan says leave Layton.
*******
Liberals soon decide on a new leader. May the best clown win.
*******
It never rains when you bring the umbrella.
Gaps
A gap. Interesting word. I was very sick last week. Not as bad as before. Still. Its getting rather tedious. Missed a lot of blog entries. Of course there was nothing to write about.
Above is one of my better photos. Unfortunately after many years of marriage it came to an end. They were childhood sweethearts at one time. So sad.
But all this time was not wasted. At least I keep a computer at home and can do some work offline.
My shorts
Youth. Clearly such a thing is wasted on the youth.
********
Support the troops. Send Harper packing.
*******
David Miller says support him in the municipal election. Better he should buy a walker.
*******
Layton says leave Afghanistan. Afghanistan says leave Layton.
*******
Liberals soon decide on a new leader. May the best clown win.
*******
It never rains when you bring the umbrella.
Lucky people in Inuvik. To celebrate the end of summer, a few of them drive outside town and hoist a Collins with a two punch dose of rum. They want all the citizens there to do the same. That way everyone will get the double on tundra.
*******
To save power in the cell phone battery don’t call anyone. Which means that maybe you don’t need the cell phone to begin with.
*******
Before becoming Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld headed up the company that invented Tamiflu. I admit it fully. I was impressed for a whole minute. Hmmm. Come to think of it, that stuff doesn’t live up to its promises either.
*******
European governments correctly knock Canada for its absurd stand on Kyoto. They swim in warm pools of self righteousness. Their oil companies are ready to plunder the Arctic sea basin north of for more carbon fuels as the cap melts due to Global Warming. The Danes are claiming all of the Arctic basin. Does anyone see the hypocrisy in this?
The idea is not to burn. It is Carbon Dioxide that generates most of the global warming.
Quite a lot of countries in the world will be impacted by global warming. If the Greenland and Antarctica Ice caps start melting more than New Orleans will be effected. New York, Los Angeles, San Diego will be under water. The Bahamas will be gone. Holland gone. Come to think of it this includes much of Denmark.
Which leads us to the question. Just how stupid are humans anyway.? We are about to find out.
*******
Harper had an indepth conversation about human rights with the Chinese government. How lucky they were to be lectured by his Hokiness. It took all of fifteen minutes. Seems awefully efficient.
Lucky people in Inuvik. To celebrate the end of summer, a few of them drive outside town and hoist a Collins with a two punch dose of rum. They want all the citizens there to do the same. That way everyone will get the double on tundra.
*******
To save power in the cell phone battery don’t call anyone. Which means that maybe you don’t need the cell phone to begin with.
*******
Before becoming Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld headed up the company that invented Tamiflu. I admit it fully. I was impressed for a whole minute. Hmmm. Come to think of it, that stuff doesn’t live up to its promises either.
*******
European governments correctly knock Canada for its absurd stand on Kyoto. They swim in warm pools of self righteousness. Their oil companies are ready to plunder the Arctic sea basin north of for more carbon fuels as the cap melts due to Global Warming. The Danes are claiming all of the Arctic basin. Does anyone see the hypocrisy in this?
The idea is not to burn. It is Carbon Dioxide that generates most of the global warming.
Quite a lot of countries in the world will be impacted by global warming. If the Greenland and Antarctica Ice caps start melting more than New Orleans will be effected. New York, Los Angeles, San Diego will be under water. The Bahamas will be gone. Holland gone. Come to think of it this includes much of Denmark.
Which leads us to the question. Just how stupid are humans anyway.? We are about to find out.
*******
Harper had an indepth conversation about human rights with the Chinese government. How lucky they were to be lectured by his Hokiness. It took all of fifteen minutes. Seems awefully efficient.
Friday, November 10, 2006
I Yam what I Yam.
Suppertime this weekend.
I got the secret formula
to cooking the perfect Yam.
I got a lot of Yams.
I am full of Yams Monday,
Yes I Yam.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Legacy
Donald Rumsfeld finally resigned. Regrettably this was six years too late. The Iraq military strategy appears to be designed by an amateur. He was the amateur.
Rumsfeld’s legacy, what is it? He left the once powerful military infrastructure fractured, understrengthed and undermanned. Rumsfeld didn’t send enough troops into Iraq in the critical early days of the invasion. And wholly against the advice of the politically neutral generals. He exits leaving his nation mired in a protracted guerrilla war with no plausible positive exit strategy.
The USA was run by a triumvirate of sorts. Rumsfeld was one third of that. President George W. Bush and his Vice President comprised the balance. The Three Stooges had a company of clowns supporting their antics. These guys had the fanatical Christian Right supporting their comedy. No one laughs.
Remember President Bush once said that Iraq wasn’t like Viet Nam. He was right. Having lived through that Viet Nam era I can speak with experience. Iraq is far worse than Viet Nam. Coincidently, both the disasters were begun by Republican administrations. The USA involvement in Viet Nam began with President Eisenhower for everyone’s information as did Cuba.
Iraq manifests itself as the apex of American power. Like the Soviet Union’s involvement in Afghanistan, this adventure signals the end of the American global domination. Iraq could have been a success. It could have been a glowing success. Yet Rumsfeld screwed up as did the people who propped him up.
The replacement Gates is not all that much better. Remember this was the guy who created the modern CIA. You know the one agency who agreed that Saddam had all of those WMD’s. The same CIA which tracked down Osama - mostly in their dreams. One hopes that the newly elected Democratic Congress will sink this guy. Bush never picks the right people for the job.
Rumsfeld’s legacy, what is it? He left the once powerful military infrastructure fractured, understrengthed and undermanned. Rumsfeld didn’t send enough troops into Iraq in the critical early days of the invasion. And wholly against the advice of the politically neutral generals. He exits leaving his nation mired in a protracted guerrilla war with no plausible positive exit strategy.
The USA was run by a triumvirate of sorts. Rumsfeld was one third of that. President George W. Bush and his Vice President comprised the balance. The Three Stooges had a company of clowns supporting their antics. These guys had the fanatical Christian Right supporting their comedy. No one laughs.
Remember President Bush once said that Iraq wasn’t like Viet Nam. He was right. Having lived through that Viet Nam era I can speak with experience. Iraq is far worse than Viet Nam. Coincidently, both the disasters were begun by Republican administrations. The USA involvement in Viet Nam began with President Eisenhower for everyone’s information as did Cuba.
Iraq manifests itself as the apex of American power. Like the Soviet Union’s involvement in Afghanistan, this adventure signals the end of the American global domination. Iraq could have been a success. It could have been a glowing success. Yet Rumsfeld screwed up as did the people who propped him up.
The replacement Gates is not all that much better. Remember this was the guy who created the modern CIA. You know the one agency who agreed that Saddam had all of those WMD’s. The same CIA which tracked down Osama - mostly in their dreams. One hopes that the newly elected Democratic Congress will sink this guy. Bush never picks the right people for the job.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Quest'ce que c'est Georges?
The trials and tribolutions commence an attack of monumental perplexity. Cannot the horse smell the oasis in the distance? I guess not.
George W. Bush future ex President of the US. Give us the refrain "Two more years."
Lost in the election fuss is the ultimate annoyance. The Canadian Conservative talking radio hosts are saying this was only a slap on the wrist. Hmmph.
Not lost on those that follow the political scene in the United States is the fact that during this midterm election most of the seats up for the vote were held by Republicans, indeed very entrenched. The rebuke was stronger than the right wingers suggest.
George W. Bush future ex President of the US. Give us the refrain "Two more years."
Lost in the election fuss is the ultimate annoyance. The Canadian Conservative talking radio hosts are saying this was only a slap on the wrist. Hmmph.
Not lost on those that follow the political scene in the United States is the fact that during this midterm election most of the seats up for the vote were held by Republicans, indeed very entrenched. The rebuke was stronger than the right wingers suggest.
Monday, November 06, 2006
IA - addiction
Better start a new organization. - Internet Anonymous (IA). For all those people who are addicted to the internet. Its hard kicking the habit. I couldn’t sleep well last night. One must take this one day at a time.
The Lucky Caveman
Finally the theme of this here blog. Many new ways cloud us from the world. Passing emphasis on a vaulting dimension creeps forward. Some call it progress. Others call it wonderful.
Listening to the radio triggers a shock of sorts. Listen closely to AM radio. Years ago. And I do mean years ago now. AM radio once you got it tuned in the airwaves were clear and pronounced. There was static and snow if the station wasn’t in tune. But once the frequency was matched there was a quality reception.
This morning the nirvana occurred. Trying to focus on an AM station I found that it was hissing and crackling. Between cell phones and a supply of countless electronic devices radio wave pollution is finally getting the best.
Official scientific papers and reports decry the idea that there is no effect on the biological mass known as the human body. Think a minute on this. Use an old analogical watch to do it. Its hard to find those anymore.
My first watch demanded to be wound by turning a very little knob, once every 24 hours. It could not go more than 36 hours without an attempt at recharging the mainspring. The spin at the watch makers TV ads boasted that these affordable watches were accurate to within three seconds per month.
Some watches were far more accurate. But when the three minute one sold for less than thirty dollars compared against the three thousand dollars price of the latter watch, there emerged a common sense motive.
Bring on today. Watches are accurate to within seconds per year. And depending on the fence (legal or otherwise) one deals with these watches can be had for under $30. Electronics broke down the global domination of time by the Swiss.
Unfortunately almost everything in the major category is now controlled by electronics as well. And there is a lot of it. Even the rice cooker, once a ceramic pot only a century ago is electronically controlled.
Yes cell phones do not cause cancer. But that report is only too narrow. What else? Too often people focus on things that kill, not those things that cause infirmity and severe discomfort. Arthritis, diabetes, obesity, migraines, asthma, Alzheimers, dementia’s and mental disorders rise.
People do live longer thanks to anti-biotics and pharmaceuticals. People simply live longer and in doing so - encounter these infirmities. Many of the infirmities are related to aging. Indeed even aging is considered an infirmity rather than simply a phase of the life cycle.
In that backdrop however, the increase in reported infirmities is disproportionate and higher than predicted by any futurist forecast from forty years ago. In other words not only has the rate of infirmity increase it is higher than the forecast models projected.
Every cell phone user fears cancer. This concern is understandable. Almost every approving report appears generated by a electronic corporation or by a government of a nation that possesses a significant electronics industry. Remember, forty years ago the tobacco industry and the growers governments generated many positive reports regarding the habit of smoking. In many ways the argument over electronic pollution almost mirrors the course set by tobacco forty years earlier.
Yes there are other pollutants but the rise of these infirmities coincide more closely to the rise in the use of electronics. And in concert with those electronics which come in close contact with the human body. Infirmities may be increasing due to the presence of this massive load of active electronics that are shedding off a plethora of radio radiation.
Only in the medical field have electronics excelled. Otherwise in daily life electronics aren’t really needed. Indeed these devices may be the source of many modern infirmities.
Modern medicine has a plateful of issues more serious than the mild aging angsts that emerge from the overwhelming new presence of electronics. Indeed so treatable are the complaints that aspirins easily mitigate the symptoms of such pains. While treating the symptoms the causes remain a mystery.
Another emergence coinciding with the rise of the new electronic world appears to be the changing and growing nature of drug dependency. Drug addiction has always been with us since the discovery of fermentation. Until recently drug and alcohol addiction was rather a simple matter. Changed is the nature of addiction.
Primary to this is the rise of addictions in females. And if one attends a Narcotics Anonymous meeting one is struck by the presence of people not only addicted, but in pain from a variety of sources. The significant change is the nature of the complaints. Quite a few used were addicted not for the high or the buzz but the relief of pain. This is a significant change from addictions in the 1930’s.
Addicts complain about the presence of a body in pain. Their drug use mitigates that pain. In other words they fell into drug addiction trying to deal with a complete body pain. It is treating the symptoms because no cause of pain can be pointed out to a doctor.
They are cut with no knife, no blunt fall, no identifiable cause. Pain usually has a cause. Pain emerges when there is a threat to the body. Eliminating all possible causes by deduction leaves the answer that is left, no matter how improbable, must be the answer. Applied to drug addiction sufferers. They have no choice but to seek relief. Summarily this leaves the only answer. Only one thing has increased enveloping the human body in the past four decades. Massive increases in environmental electronic radiation would be the likely cause.
Cavemen didn’t have this kind of pain.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Later in the afternoon
Some damage has been repaired. The counterattack on the REE (Rogers Evil Empire) might begin but they are too big and equally too pathetic to worry about.
The evil empire blacked out my access to 360.Yahoo.blog under the famous gordc238 brand name. Brand name? Yes brand name. Anyhow talk about the stupid leading the stupid. I went to an old email address that I kept around for years and voila!
http://360.yahoo.com/gordsracing
Another blog site on Yahoo.
The good thing is that with the old site wiped out I can use the old graphics all over again like they were brand new.
The evil empire blacked out my access to 360.Yahoo.blog under the famous gordc238 brand name. Brand name? Yes brand name. Anyhow talk about the stupid leading the stupid. I went to an old email address that I kept around for years and voila!
http://360.yahoo.com/gordsracing
Another blog site on Yahoo.
The good thing is that with the old site wiped out I can use the old graphics all over again like they were brand new.
Evil Rogers strikes again.
Fuck off Ted
And I really truly mean Fuck Right Off. As predicted, when I cancelled Rogers, they went to Yahoo immediately and appeared to have wiped out the other blog. At least they've blocked it. They wiped out the web page on Yahoo's geocities.
Moved on. Take off Rogers Communications. God are they institutionalized slime. Their customer service is absolutely abysmal. They sneak on hidden charges. Lie like rugs. The software spies on your computers. Not that I would miss this but after all once you clear and flood, you keep going until the rink freezes.
Scratch the Blow Jays off the fan list. They are a Rogers Company too. You can tell.
Besides the Internet has really changed over the last few years. Wikipedia is its intellectual apex. Group rooms are rife with stupid kids pretending to be adults or freaked out Christian Fundamentalists.
I know people would find it peculiar that I would use an Internet gimmick site to knock the Internet. That’s where the beauty of the approach comes in.
On the second floor in another building further north. Entries will be scattered as I now have to work from a collection of free email sites scattered around the city. The only problem is getting on them. The old geezers get on a computer and use it for solitaire. Can’t the stupid farts use regular cards?
So today my home is Internet and cable free. My com costs have been reduced to the cost of radio batteries once every month or so.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Smelling up. roses
Today is the first night in the new smaller improved version of a room. It was a sudden move. Worse still there is no cable outlet for internet. Or phone for that matter. Which is way too bad.
The regular computer rests unused in the middle of the room on its regal furnishings. This is a second floor room with a view. Perhaps there will be one or two open systems within range.
One of the largest reasons for the sudden move was the appeal of having a room with a real bathroom. I know my parents used to preach share, share, share. But after almost four years of sharing bathrooms, that little ethic got the toilet treatment.
I will use free internet to update this sorry blog. Rogers may end the run of literary images. I will try to save the blog. Rogers and Yahoo may try to usurp my email account in blind revenge. After all, in Canada.
See you on the other side. Whaaayhoo
Today is the first night in the new smaller improved version of a room. It was a sudden move. Worse still there is no cable outlet for internet. Or phone for that matter. Which is way too bad.
The regular computer rests unused in the middle of the room on its regal furnishings. This is a second floor room with a view. Perhaps there will be one or two open systems within range.
One of the largest reasons for the sudden move was the appeal of having a room with a real bathroom. I know my parents used to preach share, share, share. But after almost four years of sharing bathrooms, that little ethic got the toilet treatment.
I will use free internet to update this sorry blog. Rogers may end the run of literary images. I will try to save the blog. Rogers and Yahoo may try to usurp my email account in blind revenge. After all, in Canada.
See you on the other side. Whaaayhoo
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Moving again
No waiting
Just noting that I am moving again.
The new place is a slightly smaller room but it looks the same to me. The price is the same. It has its own bathroom. And it gives me a reason to cancel out Rogers Internet. It would save me $40 per month. Rogers wasn't quite all honest in its customer service adding little sneaky charges here and there.
The system works great but I really don't need it any more. Only the phone is left tied to Roger's and I have only 13 months to go before that contract is up.
Hopefully the new position will access a wireless LAN somewhere near. The old room was in a building which after being burned out 15 years ago was rebuilt with metal studs. That might explain a lot about why I can't pick up any other wireless systems.
However the new place does have its own bathroom. Imagine no waiting. I can take a shower regularly again without menace. There are significant advantages.
Just noting that I am moving again.
The new place is a slightly smaller room but it looks the same to me. The price is the same. It has its own bathroom. And it gives me a reason to cancel out Rogers Internet. It would save me $40 per month. Rogers wasn't quite all honest in its customer service adding little sneaky charges here and there.
The system works great but I really don't need it any more. Only the phone is left tied to Roger's and I have only 13 months to go before that contract is up.
Hopefully the new position will access a wireless LAN somewhere near. The old room was in a building which after being burned out 15 years ago was rebuilt with metal studs. That might explain a lot about why I can't pick up any other wireless systems.
However the new place does have its own bathroom. Imagine no waiting. I can take a shower regularly again without menace. There are significant advantages.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Lost or fall
Lost or fall
About a week ago. I lost an umbrella. Not a good umbrella. A very cheap umbrella.
Its late in the fall. The weather's been really nice. So, I decided to not replace it.
Next day. Not two days later. Not three days later. Yes, the very next day. In fact the very next morning. It rained.
It didn't rain light. It didn't drizzle. The skies became grey. Not a light grey, they became a dark grey. The kind of grey that lingers.
Now this would only go on for a day. Its late fall. I could live with that.
Four days later. Not one. Not two. Not three. Yes four days later. It was still grey. It was still rainy. And yes it was still that moody grey. The grey that lingers. The grey that sinks. The grey that says, "I'm the atmosphere. I am pissing on you."
So two days ago, in the afternoon, I went to the cheap umbrella store. I bought. Yes, I bought a cheap umbrella. It had that cheap fabric pouch. Its the virgin pouch. That sort of fabric pouch that once the umbrella is first deployed you can't get that sucker back covering the shrivelled umbrella matrix. Its the kind of umbrella that says. "I'm cheap. Lose me."
One day later. The very next morning in fact. I was chilly. But the weather was really nice. Its the kind of leaf kicking day. The sort of day when you amble through the city park and kick through the piles of leaves. That fall beaming day that says "I'm the atmosphere, I'm a sunny smiling little bitch."
Its the kind of fall day you think about pumpkins. One thinks of Halloween and plan expertly for that evening. The apartment darkens like an ancient tomb. Beware to all who intrude. Its the fall day when to one's self the wheels whirl, "Heh, heh, heh. Yes I will turn out the lights, close the curtains, and use earphones. I will not answer the door for those tackily disguised yuppy puppy snot monsters."
There sits my umbrella. Today all around the city rains fall. It says so on the radar. But as the water clouds reach the city the foul weather dissipates. I stare on at the closet hook. There it is. The cheap umbrella still protected by its hymen pouch.
About a week ago. I lost an umbrella. Not a good umbrella. A very cheap umbrella.
Its late in the fall. The weather's been really nice. So, I decided to not replace it.
Next day. Not two days later. Not three days later. Yes, the very next day. In fact the very next morning. It rained.
It didn't rain light. It didn't drizzle. The skies became grey. Not a light grey, they became a dark grey. The kind of grey that lingers.
Now this would only go on for a day. Its late fall. I could live with that.
Four days later. Not one. Not two. Not three. Yes four days later. It was still grey. It was still rainy. And yes it was still that moody grey. The grey that lingers. The grey that sinks. The grey that says, "I'm the atmosphere. I am pissing on you."
So two days ago, in the afternoon, I went to the cheap umbrella store. I bought. Yes, I bought a cheap umbrella. It had that cheap fabric pouch. Its the virgin pouch. That sort of fabric pouch that once the umbrella is first deployed you can't get that sucker back covering the shrivelled umbrella matrix. Its the kind of umbrella that says. "I'm cheap. Lose me."
One day later. The very next morning in fact. I was chilly. But the weather was really nice. Its the kind of leaf kicking day. The sort of day when you amble through the city park and kick through the piles of leaves. That fall beaming day that says "I'm the atmosphere, I'm a sunny smiling little bitch."
Its the kind of fall day you think about pumpkins. One thinks of Halloween and plan expertly for that evening. The apartment darkens like an ancient tomb. Beware to all who intrude. Its the fall day when to one's self the wheels whirl, "Heh, heh, heh. Yes I will turn out the lights, close the curtains, and use earphones. I will not answer the door for those tackily disguised yuppy puppy snot monsters."
There sits my umbrella. Today all around the city rains fall. It says so on the radar. But as the water clouds reach the city the foul weather dissipates. I stare on at the closet hook. There it is. The cheap umbrella still protected by its hymen pouch.
The Palacio Files
The Palacio files - Entry for October 27, 2006 pm
Dignity of the Councillor
He will not dignify any such question with an answer.
This unseen entry is primarily for those outside of Toronto and not likely to know of this little fiasco enterring the latter stages of the Municipal election campaigns. One of the most interesting politicians, Cesare Palacio, to ever grace the confines of any City Hall; got caught in a fascinating furball. The following two excellent articles are from the Toronto Star yesterday, and today.
He's threatened to sue everybody in the world for saying anything about this. So remember if you read this, - forget it. You, or I, have never read these articles - or know of them. Or, you too will be visited by Palacio's lawyers.
*********
Article one.
Charity and the councillor
Ward 17's Palacio says critics are 'petty' and political
Oct. 26, 2006. 01:00 AM
JOHN DUNCANSON AND LAURIE MONSEBRAATEN
STAFF REPORTERS
A crime-fighting charity co-founded by Toronto councillor Cesar Palacio has been paying the mortgage on a building that houses his ward office, while drastically reducing its charitable donations, the Star has learned.
The main floor of the two-storey building, bought for the Police Community Partnership 12 Division (PCP) by a numbered company in 2002, was used by Palacio for his campaign office in the 2003 elections and has been his local ward office since.
Palacio and two members of the PCP's board are listed as directors of the numbered company that bought the building for $270,000. He was also a founding member of the PCP and chair of the board when the building was purchased. Palacio stepped down after he was elected but still attends its monthly meetings and remains active as the ward councillor.
The charity's most recent detailed filing to the Canada Revenue Agency shows that it had a revenue balance of $61,387.93 in 2005, but disbursed less than $11,000 to charitable causes, while allocating nearly $20,000 to the mortgage payments at 1697 St. Clair Ave. W., where Palacio has his storefront councillor's office in Ward 17 (Davenport).
The Police Community Partnership has no official connection to the Toronto police, but holds monthly meetings with area officers to report local crime and problem locations. Its charitable declaration to Ottawa describes its purpose as "crime prevention, public safety, preservation of law and order."
Despite the purchase of the building, the PCP has never operated from there because it has received free office space in a public housing building at 1884 Davenport Rd. since 1994.
After repeated requests for an interview, Palacio declined through a spokesperson to answer any questions yesterday. In a statement emailed to the Star last night, Palacio said:
"The Police Community Partnership 12 Division is an outstanding organization that I have been proud to work with for many, many years."
"It is extremely upsetting to see the Police Community Partnership as the target of a smear campaign by volunteers of other local political campaigns ... for extremely petty and selfish purposes simply to coincide with an election," he said, adding that he intends to sue anyone for spreading false or misleading accusations about the organization.
Pointed questions about the charity's ownership in the building caused a stir at an all-candidates' meeting last Wednesday, and the issue is expected to come up again at an election debate tonight as Palacio faces challengers Fred Dominelli and Alejandra Bravo in the hotly contested race for Ward 17.
Palacio has threatened to sue area resident John Sweeney, who raised the matter last Thursday at an all-candidates' meeting at Fairbank Community Centre. Sweeney, a former board member of the PCP, has been trying to find out why the charity is pouring money into ownership of the building even though it is not used for charity work.
A letter from Palacio's lawyer to Sweeney this month says the numbered company was formed specifically to buy the building for the benefit of the PCP and not for the board members' own gain. Palacio and the board members are simply "guarantors" on the purchase because the "financing was very difficult to obtain for the charitable organization," said the letter from lawyer Maurizio Vani.
The other two people named as directors of the numbered company are PCP chair Claire Andrews and secretary Heather Kilgour. In interviews both have denied any impropriety in the building purchase.
Mortgage documents on the building show that the numbered company paid $120,000 towards the purchase price, leaving a mortgage of $150,000. It's not clear where the $120,000 came from.
According to the PCP's 2005 filing to the Canada Revenue Agency's charity directorate, it paid $19,981 in mortgage payments on the building but brought in just $4,943 in rent last year. Meanwhile, records show that in 2005 less than 20 per cent of all its revenue went to charitable work in the community.
Sweeney, who was a PCP board member when the St. Clair Ave. W. building was bought four years ago, said the decision to buy the property was never brought before the board, nor were reasons for making the purchase ever discussed at official meetings.
The charity holds monthly meetings at the Davenport location and is open several days a week to take neighbourhood crime reports from the public. The Toronto Community Housing Corp. issued it another free five-year lease in 2004.
Since there has never been a written treasurer's report submitted to the board, Sweeney and others have no way of knowing how much of the charity's money has been invested in the building, he said.
"When are you going to explain to the PCP members what has happened?" he asked Palacio last week. "Explain to the people here tonight why you transferred these funds without their knowledge, especially when the PCP bylaws state that there must be a treasurer's report for spending on any amount over $200?"
Palacio didn't respond to Sweeney's questions last week, saying the issue is the subject of a lawyer's letter to Sweeney warning he will be served with a defamation suit if he doesn't retract his statements.
Palacio's campaign manager, Mike Foderick, said Sweeney, who is working on challenger Bravo's campaign, is trying to smear the councillor and the good work the charity has done in the community such as closing crack houses, supporting recreation programs for children and youth and making streets safer.
"I'll let the statement speak for itself," he said last night. "This is nothing more than a slander campaign and it can't be entertained at such a sensitive time (as an election.)"
The Star contacted the PCP's current chair, vice-chair, treasurer, and secretary this week to find out more about the building purchase.
All said there is nothing inappropriate. Two of the board members said they bought it because they were told they could lose their free space on Davenport Rd. Yet four years later, the charity still operates out of that location. A spokesperson for the Toronto Community Housing Corp. said the PCP's space in the building has never been in doubt and there are no plans to move the group when its existing lease is up in November 2009.
The board members all refused to comment on specifics of the charity's finances until they met to discuss the issue as a group.
However, they maintained the PCP is doing important anti-crime work in the neighbourhood even though the charity's financial records show a dramatic drop in spending on donations and community events since 2002 when the building was purchased.
A good charity should devote at least 60 per cent of its annual expenditures to "good works," leaving the rest for administrative and fundraising expenses, according to charity experts.
The Star found that in 2005 the PCP spent between just 10 and 20 per cent of its annual expenditures on good works (the charity gives two different "good works" amounts on two separate financial documents). Included in the activities are a volunteer appreciation gathering, donations to a local church and a school.
The largest portion of the charity's money, mainly raised through monthly bingos, went towards paying for the mortgage on the St. Clair Ave. W. building in 2005.
The detailed 2005 filing to Canada Revenue Agency's charity directorate shows the PCP spent $10,751.96 on community barbecues and a golf tournament as well as donations, even though it brought in $57,807 from the Delta Bingo on St. Clair Ave. W. and rent from its building nearby.
In total they spent nearly $20,000 paying down the $150,000 mortgage left on 1697 St. Clair Ave. W. Last year, the charity spent almost as much money — $9,617.50 — on administrative costs, including flyers and salaries, as it did on charitable events or donations within the community. In 2005, its only donation to a qualified charity was $100 to the Cancer Society, according to the Canada Revenue Agency documents.
In the two years prior to the building being purchased in 2002, most of the revenue raised through bingos went to charity work in the community. The amount of money spent on "good works" dropped dramatically in 2003 to $13,022 even though revenues topped $73,000, Canada Revenue Agency documents show.
Neither the board members nor Palacio's assistant would say how much rent is being paid on the St. Clair Ave. W. building, but the councillor is paying rent, Foderick said. There is also a two-bedroom rental unit upstairs. They refused to say how much the tenant is paying. The 2005 charity filings show the PCP only received $4,943.67 in rent last year, or about $412 a month. The two previous years, rent money received by the charity didn't exceed $7,000 or $633 a month.
Wilson Basantes Espinoza, David Faria, Cinzia Scalabrini and Gustavo Valdez are also candidates in Ward 17.
With files from Kevin Donovan
*************
Article two
Palacio alleges 'smear campaign' Councillor grilled for renting in building bought by his charity
Group responds, saying no improprieties in arrangement Oct. 27, 2006. 06:06 AM PHINJO GOMBU STAFF REPORTER
A Toronto councillor under attack for renting a ward office in a building where the mortgage is paid by a charity he co-founded says he is being targeted by an election opponent.
"This is nothing more than a smear campaign," Cesar Palacio said last night to the cheers of supporters, pointing a finger at his opponent, Alejandra Bravo, during a candidates' debate in Ward 17, Davenport.
Later, asked by audience member David Rapaport why only 15 per cent of the funds raised by the charity went toward crime-fighting initiatives, Palacio said he would not dignify the question with an answer.
Instead Palacio said any comment would come from the charity — the Police Community Partnership 12 Division — which released a statement yesterday saying there was nothing wrong with the arrangement made to rent space to Palacio. The group did not say how much Palacio was paying in rent.
Bravo told the crowd she would not comment.
None of the other candidates at the debate spoke directly on the matter. Candidate Fred Dominelli, however, said he believed Palacio had been set up by Bravo and her supporters.
Also running are Wilson Basantes Espinoza, David Faria, Cinzia Scalabrini and Gustavo Valdez.
A story in yesterday's Toronto Star described how the charity Palacio co-founded has been paying the mortgage of the building where he has his constituency office — while reducing its charitable donations.
The building at 1697 St. Clair Ave. W. was bought for the PCP by a numbered company and used by Palacio for his campaign office in 2003, and as his local ward office. The group uses free space at a Toronto Community Housing Corp. building on Davenport Rd.
The charity's most recent detailed filing to the Canada Revenue Agency shows a revenue balance of $61,387.93 in 2005, but the group disbursed less than $11,000 to charitable causes, while allocating nearly $20,000 to the mortgage payments for the building.
Those councillors with constituency offices often represent wards that are far from city hall. Rent is usually paid from their office budgets.
Late yesterday, the group issued a statement signed by PCP chair Claire Andrews that said it bought the building on St. Clair Ave. W. because it was fearful of losing its free office space on Davenport Rd.
But housing officials contacted by the Star earlier this week said the organization is in no danger of losing its space or facing a rent increase. In fact, the group signed a lease for another four years in 2004 on Davenport Rd.
Andrews said the money for the $120,000 down payment on the $270,000 St. Clair Ave. building was raised by volunteers and hours of community fundraising — mainly bingos. He said no government grants or taxpayer money was used. Group members had to act as guarantors because of their limited financial resources, he said.
Andrews said the group didn't move into the building it bought because the fear of the rent increase later subsided.
"The decision was made to rent it out (to Palacio and others) as a means to get revenue and pay off the mortgage, so that when the PCP moved in we would be completely debt free," Andrews said.
The only reason why Palacio was approached was because the group knew he "would be flexible in the event we needed to vacate our current space," said Andrews.
Palacio's campaign manager, Mike Foderick, said John Sweeney, who raised the issue at a recent all-candidates meeting, is working on Bravo's campaign.
Mayoral candidate Jane Pitfield said she had no comment.
Dignity of the Councillor
He will not dignify any such question with an answer.
This unseen entry is primarily for those outside of Toronto and not likely to know of this little fiasco enterring the latter stages of the Municipal election campaigns. One of the most interesting politicians, Cesare Palacio, to ever grace the confines of any City Hall; got caught in a fascinating furball. The following two excellent articles are from the Toronto Star yesterday, and today.
He's threatened to sue everybody in the world for saying anything about this. So remember if you read this, - forget it. You, or I, have never read these articles - or know of them. Or, you too will be visited by Palacio's lawyers.
*********
Article one.
Charity and the councillor
Ward 17's Palacio says critics are 'petty' and political
Oct. 26, 2006. 01:00 AM
JOHN DUNCANSON AND LAURIE MONSEBRAATEN
STAFF REPORTERS
A crime-fighting charity co-founded by Toronto councillor Cesar Palacio has been paying the mortgage on a building that houses his ward office, while drastically reducing its charitable donations, the Star has learned.
The main floor of the two-storey building, bought for the Police Community Partnership 12 Division (PCP) by a numbered company in 2002, was used by Palacio for his campaign office in the 2003 elections and has been his local ward office since.
Palacio and two members of the PCP's board are listed as directors of the numbered company that bought the building for $270,000. He was also a founding member of the PCP and chair of the board when the building was purchased. Palacio stepped down after he was elected but still attends its monthly meetings and remains active as the ward councillor.
The charity's most recent detailed filing to the Canada Revenue Agency shows that it had a revenue balance of $61,387.93 in 2005, but disbursed less than $11,000 to charitable causes, while allocating nearly $20,000 to the mortgage payments at 1697 St. Clair Ave. W., where Palacio has his storefront councillor's office in Ward 17 (Davenport).
The Police Community Partnership has no official connection to the Toronto police, but holds monthly meetings with area officers to report local crime and problem locations. Its charitable declaration to Ottawa describes its purpose as "crime prevention, public safety, preservation of law and order."
Despite the purchase of the building, the PCP has never operated from there because it has received free office space in a public housing building at 1884 Davenport Rd. since 1994.
After repeated requests for an interview, Palacio declined through a spokesperson to answer any questions yesterday. In a statement emailed to the Star last night, Palacio said:
"The Police Community Partnership 12 Division is an outstanding organization that I have been proud to work with for many, many years."
"It is extremely upsetting to see the Police Community Partnership as the target of a smear campaign by volunteers of other local political campaigns ... for extremely petty and selfish purposes simply to coincide with an election," he said, adding that he intends to sue anyone for spreading false or misleading accusations about the organization.
Pointed questions about the charity's ownership in the building caused a stir at an all-candidates' meeting last Wednesday, and the issue is expected to come up again at an election debate tonight as Palacio faces challengers Fred Dominelli and Alejandra Bravo in the hotly contested race for Ward 17.
Palacio has threatened to sue area resident John Sweeney, who raised the matter last Thursday at an all-candidates' meeting at Fairbank Community Centre. Sweeney, a former board member of the PCP, has been trying to find out why the charity is pouring money into ownership of the building even though it is not used for charity work.
A letter from Palacio's lawyer to Sweeney this month says the numbered company was formed specifically to buy the building for the benefit of the PCP and not for the board members' own gain. Palacio and the board members are simply "guarantors" on the purchase because the "financing was very difficult to obtain for the charitable organization," said the letter from lawyer Maurizio Vani.
The other two people named as directors of the numbered company are PCP chair Claire Andrews and secretary Heather Kilgour. In interviews both have denied any impropriety in the building purchase.
Mortgage documents on the building show that the numbered company paid $120,000 towards the purchase price, leaving a mortgage of $150,000. It's not clear where the $120,000 came from.
According to the PCP's 2005 filing to the Canada Revenue Agency's charity directorate, it paid $19,981 in mortgage payments on the building but brought in just $4,943 in rent last year. Meanwhile, records show that in 2005 less than 20 per cent of all its revenue went to charitable work in the community.
Sweeney, who was a PCP board member when the St. Clair Ave. W. building was bought four years ago, said the decision to buy the property was never brought before the board, nor were reasons for making the purchase ever discussed at official meetings.
The charity holds monthly meetings at the Davenport location and is open several days a week to take neighbourhood crime reports from the public. The Toronto Community Housing Corp. issued it another free five-year lease in 2004.
Since there has never been a written treasurer's report submitted to the board, Sweeney and others have no way of knowing how much of the charity's money has been invested in the building, he said.
"When are you going to explain to the PCP members what has happened?" he asked Palacio last week. "Explain to the people here tonight why you transferred these funds without their knowledge, especially when the PCP bylaws state that there must be a treasurer's report for spending on any amount over $200?"
Palacio didn't respond to Sweeney's questions last week, saying the issue is the subject of a lawyer's letter to Sweeney warning he will be served with a defamation suit if he doesn't retract his statements.
Palacio's campaign manager, Mike Foderick, said Sweeney, who is working on challenger Bravo's campaign, is trying to smear the councillor and the good work the charity has done in the community such as closing crack houses, supporting recreation programs for children and youth and making streets safer.
"I'll let the statement speak for itself," he said last night. "This is nothing more than a slander campaign and it can't be entertained at such a sensitive time (as an election.)"
The Star contacted the PCP's current chair, vice-chair, treasurer, and secretary this week to find out more about the building purchase.
All said there is nothing inappropriate. Two of the board members said they bought it because they were told they could lose their free space on Davenport Rd. Yet four years later, the charity still operates out of that location. A spokesperson for the Toronto Community Housing Corp. said the PCP's space in the building has never been in doubt and there are no plans to move the group when its existing lease is up in November 2009.
The board members all refused to comment on specifics of the charity's finances until they met to discuss the issue as a group.
However, they maintained the PCP is doing important anti-crime work in the neighbourhood even though the charity's financial records show a dramatic drop in spending on donations and community events since 2002 when the building was purchased.
A good charity should devote at least 60 per cent of its annual expenditures to "good works," leaving the rest for administrative and fundraising expenses, according to charity experts.
The Star found that in 2005 the PCP spent between just 10 and 20 per cent of its annual expenditures on good works (the charity gives two different "good works" amounts on two separate financial documents). Included in the activities are a volunteer appreciation gathering, donations to a local church and a school.
The largest portion of the charity's money, mainly raised through monthly bingos, went towards paying for the mortgage on the St. Clair Ave. W. building in 2005.
The detailed 2005 filing to Canada Revenue Agency's charity directorate shows the PCP spent $10,751.96 on community barbecues and a golf tournament as well as donations, even though it brought in $57,807 from the Delta Bingo on St. Clair Ave. W. and rent from its building nearby.
In total they spent nearly $20,000 paying down the $150,000 mortgage left on 1697 St. Clair Ave. W. Last year, the charity spent almost as much money — $9,617.50 — on administrative costs, including flyers and salaries, as it did on charitable events or donations within the community. In 2005, its only donation to a qualified charity was $100 to the Cancer Society, according to the Canada Revenue Agency documents.
In the two years prior to the building being purchased in 2002, most of the revenue raised through bingos went to charity work in the community. The amount of money spent on "good works" dropped dramatically in 2003 to $13,022 even though revenues topped $73,000, Canada Revenue Agency documents show.
Neither the board members nor Palacio's assistant would say how much rent is being paid on the St. Clair Ave. W. building, but the councillor is paying rent, Foderick said. There is also a two-bedroom rental unit upstairs. They refused to say how much the tenant is paying. The 2005 charity filings show the PCP only received $4,943.67 in rent last year, or about $412 a month. The two previous years, rent money received by the charity didn't exceed $7,000 or $633 a month.
Wilson Basantes Espinoza, David Faria, Cinzia Scalabrini and Gustavo Valdez are also candidates in Ward 17.
With files from Kevin Donovan
*************
Article two
Palacio alleges 'smear campaign' Councillor grilled for renting in building bought by his charity
Group responds, saying no improprieties in arrangement Oct. 27, 2006. 06:06 AM PHINJO GOMBU STAFF REPORTER
A Toronto councillor under attack for renting a ward office in a building where the mortgage is paid by a charity he co-founded says he is being targeted by an election opponent.
"This is nothing more than a smear campaign," Cesar Palacio said last night to the cheers of supporters, pointing a finger at his opponent, Alejandra Bravo, during a candidates' debate in Ward 17, Davenport.
Later, asked by audience member David Rapaport why only 15 per cent of the funds raised by the charity went toward crime-fighting initiatives, Palacio said he would not dignify the question with an answer.
Instead Palacio said any comment would come from the charity — the Police Community Partnership 12 Division — which released a statement yesterday saying there was nothing wrong with the arrangement made to rent space to Palacio. The group did not say how much Palacio was paying in rent.
Bravo told the crowd she would not comment.
None of the other candidates at the debate spoke directly on the matter. Candidate Fred Dominelli, however, said he believed Palacio had been set up by Bravo and her supporters.
Also running are Wilson Basantes Espinoza, David Faria, Cinzia Scalabrini and Gustavo Valdez.
A story in yesterday's Toronto Star described how the charity Palacio co-founded has been paying the mortgage of the building where he has his constituency office — while reducing its charitable donations.
The building at 1697 St. Clair Ave. W. was bought for the PCP by a numbered company and used by Palacio for his campaign office in 2003, and as his local ward office. The group uses free space at a Toronto Community Housing Corp. building on Davenport Rd.
The charity's most recent detailed filing to the Canada Revenue Agency shows a revenue balance of $61,387.93 in 2005, but the group disbursed less than $11,000 to charitable causes, while allocating nearly $20,000 to the mortgage payments for the building.
Those councillors with constituency offices often represent wards that are far from city hall. Rent is usually paid from their office budgets.
Late yesterday, the group issued a statement signed by PCP chair Claire Andrews that said it bought the building on St. Clair Ave. W. because it was fearful of losing its free office space on Davenport Rd.
But housing officials contacted by the Star earlier this week said the organization is in no danger of losing its space or facing a rent increase. In fact, the group signed a lease for another four years in 2004 on Davenport Rd.
Andrews said the money for the $120,000 down payment on the $270,000 St. Clair Ave. building was raised by volunteers and hours of community fundraising — mainly bingos. He said no government grants or taxpayer money was used. Group members had to act as guarantors because of their limited financial resources, he said.
Andrews said the group didn't move into the building it bought because the fear of the rent increase later subsided.
"The decision was made to rent it out (to Palacio and others) as a means to get revenue and pay off the mortgage, so that when the PCP moved in we would be completely debt free," Andrews said.
The only reason why Palacio was approached was because the group knew he "would be flexible in the event we needed to vacate our current space," said Andrews.
Palacio's campaign manager, Mike Foderick, said John Sweeney, who raised the issue at a recent all-candidates meeting, is working on Bravo's campaign.
Mayoral candidate Jane Pitfield said she had no comment.
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