from Gordydamus

Tiss the thirtyfirst. Time for prognostications. All things come from a vision. Here are the events foretold for 2009.

1. There will be a major earthquake in Asia.

2. There will be a bloody conflict in the Middle East.

3. A noted Hollywood actor will enter a drug rehab.

4. The President of the United States will acquire a dog.

5. Canada will have an idiot for Prime Minister.

6. The price of oil will change.

7. In July, the southern military base of the US empire, McMurdo Station, will be struck by low temperatures near -40ºC.

8. A meteor will fall into earth's atmosphere.

These are but a few of the visions over the past few days.

New Years Revulsions

Its fashionable to take stock of the past year and to create goals called resolutions. Its cliche and all that sort of thing. They never work. In this blag, a new variation on this theme. For the New Year, Gordy's 2009 Revulsions.

1. Stephen Harper.

2. Ignatieff.

3. Layton.

4. Mike Duffy.

5. Taxes.

6. TTC.

7. Wind Chill.

8. Viruses.

9. Flu clinics.

10. Doctors.

11. Oil Companies.

12. Barack Obama.

....tbc

Resolutions of a new year

Resolution(s) for the New Year.

MEDICAL

Fewer doctor visits.
More drugs.
Lose weight.
Gain weight.

Faatboll

Today the NFL season begins to wind down into its hyped up playoffs. All the teams are supposed to be playing. This means that there should be no comments until tomorrow. Most of the testosteroned abandon their computer software for this 10 hour binge of inadequacy.

Well I am not falling for it. Masculinity depends not on the quantity of booze, the numbers of games or the the winning of bets. ...Wait, maybe it does.

Christmas Dinner

Selecting the choicest all beef wieners from Shopsy's and wrapping them in the purest of white bread, laid the foundation for the best Christmas meal in a long time.

The coup de grease was that this was topped not by the flows of mustard but rather by dollops of Cheez Whiz. Yummy.

Grinch Scrooginations

Oh, oh, oh. Hey I'm not the only joyous practitioner of Grinch Scrooging (GS). The Ontario provincial government tops me. I just bother crack heads. Okay little kids too. But I draw the line at the little brats.

The Ontario government (aka GovOnCa) quietly raised the base price of beer to $25.60 about 10 days before Christmas. By in large, most poor people buy only the cheap brands of beer. The excuse was to reduce drinking e.g. driving. Like they couldn't wait til January 2nd?

Poor people don't usually drive cars. They can only afford crap beer. They didn't raise the price of the higher brands til after Christmas.

Earlier in the year, GovOnCa pulled another GS worthy of the term. Many very poor families relied on the winter clothing allowance each August to provided clothes for their children. The usually parsimonious federal government created or improved child tax credits and rebates. The latter's goal was to fulfill a promise to help reduce poverty even though a lot of the credit would also go to middle class and richies.

GovOnCa decided in its turn to assist poverty by withdrawing the winter clothing allowance with the exceptionally lame excuse that the new tax plan revenue would perhaps match the winter clothing allowance. Upon calculation, this proves untrue. It was a written lie. Yet poor people cannot afford good lawyers or advocates. So GovOnCa got away with it.

Thursday

For the last two months, I kept thinking that Christmas Day was on Wednesday. Planned everything around that fact. Today I find out that not only does it occur on Thursday but after fifty some years I still can't read a calendar.

Oh doesn't something like this really fuck one's head up.

Merry Grinch Scrooge

Its okay to Grinch. Its wild to Scrooge. One can do it with a smile to boot.

Yes, at this time of year during the festive season, one is supposed to have that Christian spirit of charity and good will. The point of this discourse is that you can have humanity and do the Grinch Scrooge (GS).

All these do-gooders, all of a sudden burdened with guilt of their 364 greed function descend on the poorest of the poor to give out food, rucksacks, blankets, soap and shaving items. Trust me. Poverty is 365 days per with the exception of Leap Year when the poor are blessed with a single rich day. The do-gooders never hand out the one precious human commodity which is respect.

Ask the do-gooders, they know nothing of the people they hand out too. They will always say we gave out this number of blankets or that number pounds of food. Never do these people hand out to Charlie, Mike, Dave or John.

Being on the other side of the lineup the receivers are rarely happy about having to take hand outs even at Christmas time. Yes there are some guys or gals that do believe in taking. Most however come out of Christmas still poor, embarrased, depressed and very alone. There is no comfort in constant necessity. There is no vacation, no weekend, no hour free.

Where does being a poor Grinch Scrooge come into this? You see. I got this thing about giving out a dollar and having that coin cross the palm of a crack dealer barely fifteen minutes later. Crack users aren't your normal drug users. Crackheads become the modern vampires. The best gift one can give a crack user is absolutely nothing. Normally it won't bother them one way or another. Its one of the rare cases where knowing how to be a Grinch Scrooge is a real benefit to society.

Often crackheads bum change for coffee standing right outside a coffee drop-in where there is a free pot of coffee. Of course to the uninitiated passer-by this sort of panhandling can assuage any guilt feeling by giving the beggar cash.

My common favorite Grinch Scrooge to crack heads begging for food money. The only thing a poor Grinch Scrooge like me has is knowledge. Where is the free or low cost food points available. “Oh sir, can we have money for food. I am so hungry.”

The reply goes. ...Yeah no problem. The food restaurant at Fred Victor Mission is still open. There are free tickets down in reception. Crack heads bugger off.

Another version of this, is to offer to buy them a breakfast, because I(me) is going there for breakfast. Crack heads bugger off. I've never had that offer taken up in this neighborhood.

The personal highlight of Grinch Scrooging happened last year. It is the fad of crackhead panhandlers to wear those ugly red Santa caps. It is common amongst crack beggars.

Crackheads use the caps to generate empathy in the marks. Mark, that's you. The Santa cap says gee I am in the Christmas spirit. You are in the Christmas spirit. You will give me a large amount of spare change.

Walking with an acquaintance we were accosted. So this female crack user employed the Santa cap trick. “Hey Sir. Any spare change?”

I stuck my hand out. “Sure, I'll take some.”
She stuck mouth open. “Ugghm, I meant you.”

“Ya, I'll take some.” I remarked.

She ran off. I went beyond the depth of understanding for any crack user.

Buddy goes. “What gives?”

I chirped loudly both to him and the retreating cracker, “Santa's are supposed to give.”

Winter pox

Well this should make some people happy. Any sort of slightly adverse weather event leads to profits and an economic boost. This is all good.

These images also provide those anti-Toronto factions with a headache. Here is proof that the city does get winter, and most of the time needs no army help. Slanderers.

Banks bailout limited

Not all banks are getting bailed out. Food banks sure aren't.

This isn't all bad. I was a user of the food banks until my disability kicked in. I still sometimes use low cost restaurants who use food from the central food bank.

What I learned is that food banks are a critical necessity. But donations are down apparently. This carries some irony because at this time donations are needed more as more laid off people stream onto the unemployment rolls. Food banks become critical.

For me, food banks worked. However each user must be warned of the health risks associated with this food source. I was sick almost constantly while I devoured food from the banks. It was a tough choice. Endure hunger pains. Or, endure the ill health so common to this food source.

Why is this? First consider the sources.

Food bank food is almost always either second hand food. It is definitely not fresh by any view.

With fresh food there is a limited numbers of handlers before one purchases. The farm, sorters, packagers and retailer. This limits the access of bacteria. In the case of food bank food, the food is handled many times before it hits the plate.

Fresh food means that usually food is below the expiry or best before date. Food bank food is almost always stale, or close too it. Often the best before date is a historical entry.

Canned food from a primary store is often pristine regarding the condition of the containers. Food bank cans are almost always dented. And they are often dented severely. Denting comes from the retailer who would have written off the dented can as unsafe for his/her customers. Denting also occurs because of the excessive handling of the food stuffs.

In the extra handling, not all the hands are clean hands. Often food banks are dirty old warehouse space which was donated by some rich guy who couldn't use the space. Or they could be located in ancient church basements with questionable sanitation conditions.

Also the food bank stores don't have the right handling conditions. The food undergoes frequent changes in temperature and humidity.

Now these are the problems encountered by the food banks which receives food from the well intentioned. There are a few donations that could be called malicious.

First there is the donation from people cleaning out the fridge. Instead of parsing into the recycling system, these people who consider the food unfit for their consumption put the food into the food hampers seeing as poor people are like dogs. Dogs eat anything and don't appear to get sick from it.

Second there are the poisoners. There are people who intentionally put spoiled food into the second hand food system. I once opened a jar of apple sauce only to find a thick layer of mold. The person who donated the food must have thought this was a good joke. Poor people have great senses of humor after all.

Another category of intentional malice comes from the commercial sector. Sometimes retailers donate the food to get a better tax credit rather than sending it to the dump where they know it should have gone.

Why the silence about all this? Fear. First the food is needed. Food bank food is a necessity. The large quantity of food comes from caring Samaritans. The fear is that by complaining it will kill the system and the larger good. The reason that poor people seem to die younger and have more health problems derive from the use of food banks and the charity meal system.

But if you are heading for the food bank system, I would encourage you to think again. No matter the care taken at the food bank apparently there are lax health standards. The volunteers are not experts in food handling, at any point. You are putting your health at risk. But if you need the food, use it with your eyes open. And say thank you.

Merry Christmas...

Sundin

There is something that Sundin did. But I don't think I know anything about it. I may, or may not write a blog about it. I will make up my mind either before Christmas, or after Christmas.

Snowmagedon

Began here about 0700hrs EST. Storm Track of storm core to the south but still oncoming. Bobby heading for the shovel.

More later.

End of time flakey

[auth. Dec 18. 2008]

"Snowmagedon" is upon us. Two low pressure areas combined over Colorado and will hit the Toronto city about rush hour.

The storm warnings issued by Environment Canada was upgraded to a Warning, and a Watch. Or is it the other way around. The alerts have been up since yesterday. The nickname for the weather alerts got picked by the weathermen at 680 News in Toronto. So this one is a Snowmagedon I.

Whether (weather) or not the storm hits like they say is totally speculation. In my recall, an experienced weather observer, in this area Colorado Hookers are busts. That term was adopted by the weather people at Environment Canada to express the power and motion of weather patterns. One is the Alberta Express, or Alberta Clipper. Another is Chinook.

Colorado Hookers are storms that form or enhance near the state of Colorado, then move east then is captured by the permanent winter low pressure area over Hudson's Bay which means the storms turn rapidly to the left to a north easterly path. The pattern hooks up.

The entire Great Lakes zone is subject to this normal storm movement. It was a Colorado Hooker that was the deepest low pressure area ever recorded over the land mass of North America. Even Katrina did not register such a deep low pressure measurement. Even though it had the windspeed of a hurricane it did not have the power. The difference is in the humidity which generates the power of a hurricane.

Regardless, tomorrow's storm is anticipated. In theory, it is striking at the wrong time which is rush hour, on a work day. It means a lot of traffic will be on the road. Environment Canada somewhat created this little dilemma. The last set of storm warnings was a complete bust, a real flop. Of course, what is logged here, is that the storm after a mistake, usually means that the people will ignore the warning.

For the conspiracy buffs, you will note that this warning comes on the Friday, of the last shopping weekend before Christmas. Now the storm is a rare chance to assist the staggering economy in the retail sector. One smells a plot.

If the storm track is to the south, it won't be too bad. If the storm track is to the north of Toronto it will deserve the weatherman's promise. If the storm tracks directly over Toronto, a bust.

I hope its bad. Gives a whole set of stories to put into blogs like this one. e.g. This is the worst storm in 37 years.

Cultural divides

al Zaidi's shoe throwing demonstrates a sharp schism between basic cultural views. Throughout the Islamic world he is considered a hero.

Meanwhile in the alleged western world, Bush comes off well too. Commentators marvel at the old boy's reflexes. And he comes a hero.

This is going to take a lot of work.

Weekend Treat

For the first time in twelve years, the Toronto Maple Leafs did not play on a Saturday night. This was very radical. Montreal and some other team played. It was a treat. Hockey Night in Canada never did show a real hockey game in that time.

Pitching

To think that the most devastating weapon used in the American conquest of Iraq is a couple of shoes, is astounding. In future there will be hundreds of camps spread secretly through out the Islamic world training youth the correct way to hurl shoes.

Images of President George W. Bush ducking shoes is the ultimate protest. It kills no one. It hurts no one. But it does demonstrate the utter contempt most Iraqis have for the Americans, and their puppets in power. Muntadar al-Zeidi threw his shoes and curses at Bush.

If he lives he may become the resistance hero for the Iraqis. A streak of blood trailed him as a pile of security agents dragged him away. Now we know what to do with those old shoes, recycle them in protest.

Malady insitu

No one bailed out Nortel. It closed this week at $0.48 per share on the Toronto Stock Exchange from a year old high around $16.00. This was after they contracted the numbers of shares 1 to 10 several months earlier. Such performance by executives. Yet free enterprise seems to insist that private business is more efficient than public.

What seems stunning in all this is that all these analysts have charted the decline of Nortel over the last decades since it was spun off from Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE on the TSX) which closed at $21.23 at week's end.

The major complaint of Nortel watchers has been the inadequate accounting department of the company. Now this accounting system had to have been instituted by its parent company prior to 1998. That company is BCE. Yet BCE's financial reporting has always been perceived as accurate. It appears that BCE was given a pass since so many investors had money in this company. BCE appears immune to the disease it gave Nortel.

Dumbocracy in action. - hypocrites #2

Contrast the Cornservative position with their counterparts in the USA Senate. Last week, Stephen Harper the future former Prime Minister in Canada, screamed that the idea of an opposition coalition to dump his sorry ass from office was undemocratic. His pitch to the stupid Canadian voters actually worked since Stephan Dion got dumped by the Liveralls. What has happened this week?

Harper then announces that they will appoint 18 new Senators before Christmas. Its called stacking the Senate. This was something popular with many Prime Ministers were it not for the fact that it was the Manning led Deform Party that split from the Proroguess Cornservatives because they wanted an elected Senate and that all Senators come from Alberta.

Harper along with Jack Layton claimed to be champions of Senate reform. Harper is a hypocrite.

Pay cut - hypocrite #1

The Yankee senate infested with Republican hypocrites. In order to grant bridge loans to the auto makers, these politicians wanted the auto workers take a hefty pay cut.

Well, why don't these leaders of society, in crisis, lead the way and take a pay cut themselves. Why do I think that will never happen.

Bus stop

“Move to the rear of the bus.” the bus driver commands. No one moves.

“Exit by the rear doors only.” driver says as the old women exit front.

“I got it somewhere, I gotta put my purse.” says a fumbling woman hunting for a token through a series of bags, plastic and leather.

It is rush hour. Packed street car. And a woman pushing the big plastic grey moulded stroller onto the car when every one has gotten on. Trapped.

For this I pay $110 a month.

The watch continues. This is the duty we set before us. Conrad Black languishes in a country estate Florida prison. George W. Bush prepares to exit into history. Tis the season for the wait, by Black and other connected ner-do-wells. Black remains clutched in hope for a pardon.

How do you think this will go? Can we get a conversation, or small skit to sum up Black's chances.
On the phone.

*****

Conrad:

Hello George. Pardon me.

President-to-go:
What? You fart?

From the other side :))

Good Day, Gord!

I was busy creating cute quotes for OUR blog (with your name on it) and I noticed, especially for the 'women are green' entry, a missing link. Where's the link to the story? I wanted to read it. Then it occurred to me, like a flash of lightning, this is the only blog in the entire world where no links are provided by the author and no links are permitted by the readers. Even my occasional TinyURL links don't show up as clickable links, they show up as plain text. Lots of people don't know how to cut and paste.

This is the Internet, Gord, mon ami! Everything is supposed to be linked to everything else. In fact, on other blogs there's a saying: if there's no link, it never happened. That's a common complaint and kind of the ultimate argument and insult on a blog. No links implies you're cherry picking the facts you happen to like and purposely leaving out 'inconvenient facts' that are contrary to your point of view. It's like a billboard saying: don't believe anything you read here because you're not allowed to independently check the facts.

On many other blogs with Moderators (and you DO moderate your blog more closely than anyone else I've ever come across by not allowing any posts until you've approved them) links, graphics, emoticons, photographs and a whole slew of creative user content is encouraged, not just grudgingly allowed.

I realize the Internet is a nasty and unruly place with zillions of spammers but your blog kind of runs counter to the spirit of the 'Net. In fact, in philosophy it's sort of like big government or big media --- although at least big media are finally figuring out the Internet and starting to get into the spirit of the thing.

Just some thoughts for a windy, warmer December day with lots and lots of snow...

Curry left me an email this morning, threatening to come over and drink my last two beers. That means I need to shower, shave, get dressed, etcetera. Maybe I'll go down and throw out my garbage and/or clean off and start his truck, which he's left parked in the empty spot I'm still paying to rent. It's been there over a week and I haven't had the energy to go and drive it anyplace. Oh well, maybe I'll get on that horse this morning and go to get some groceries and more beer. After all, he's using his old crappy truck and I have the shiny new truck. The least I can do is start it once in awhile.

New

Ignatief. ...

Geshuntiet.

Mixed up Member Representation

I am remounting this essay although it may have been placed in this blog already. Its like the parole board. One must present the evidence once a year to keep the monster behind the bars. Its insurance.

The irony is that those who want this form of parliament sort of forget. There was a fully "democratic" referendum held during the Ontario provincial election. The option was resoundly defeated.

Like the perpetually stupid separatists located in an unnamed adjacent province, they have a mental problem of comprehending the word "no".

***


The other side of the debate

Have you ever wondered why the Ontario Political Parties are almost
universally in support of the proportional representation idea? It is
not to represent Joe Citizen. It is to garner more power for the
individual party leaders.

Representation Comparison

To compare the United States of America (USA) constitutionally began
as a people's republic. One person, one vote. The representatives
swear to uphold the people's Constitution. On their ballots, the
political party comes first.

In the case of Canada the constitutional formation evolved from the
British experience in quite a different manner. Canada was and still
is a constitutional monarchy. And Canadians forget this at political
peril. In Canada, the Member of Parliament (MP; MPP; MLA) swears
political fealty to the Crown and represents a district called a Riding.

Why use the word political peril? A peril exists because the entire
Canadian political structure evolved in an environment so different
than the USA. Canadian colonial precursors fought wars to keep that
political affiliation intact. In the USA the Congress represents the
people of the Nation. In Canada the people are represented through the
Crown.

The USA presently evolved as a rather homogenous mono-culture even
politically. The USA possesses ten times the population compared with
the Canadian population statistics. Geographically the USA is smaller.

Proportional representation presents a far major shift to divisive
party politics. Each party nominates a candidate to run in each
election presently. In Canada, on the ballot it is the person who
represents a riding not the political party. In proportional
representation a list of Candidates is presented to some sort of
cesspool of politicians and those party favorites, these party
specials represent

Political Instability

A peril because one of the most important features of the Canadian
experience has engendered long periods of what is called majority
government and short periods of minority government. While
uncomfortable for those in opposition, the so called first past the
post system has brought governmental stability. Unlike the USA the
Canadian government depends on the voting support of most of the
members of Parliament.

Some people advocate a more USA like political system and in a
Parliamentary structure that brings disaster because the
responsibilities are different. It means potentially political chaos
and even a more intransigent political structure benefiting only
political parties.

In most systems where Proportional Representation exists there
maintains long periods of minority coalition governments. In Canada,
in Ontario the Riding and its constituents are placed ahead of the
political party. With the advent of the Proportional Representation
the advantage, the control of government shifts away from the Crown,
the people to the hands of the mandarins of political parties. These
people only care about themselves and care little for Joe Citizen. The
power shift from away the people, and to the political party is the
prime reason why all the Ontario political parties are for this
resolution. It kills the Parliamentary system slowly in a
strangulation of party politics in an environment of coalition
politicians which they control.

Advocates claim otherwise citing specific examples like Sweden. Sweden
is a very small country physically. Sweden is a mono-culture. Sweden's
political systems work far different than the British evolved Canadian
system. In most cases, Proportional Representation, stifles government.

Riding vs. Constituency

I am repeating this argument from the Northern Ontario political
crisis. But the argument also applies in much of Southern Ontario.
Recall that earlier the emphasis on the idea of Crown representing
Canadian Joe Citizen. Each MPP represents an area.

One of the largest myths is the absurd idea that in Canada there is a
one person one, vote idea. So in almost every set of Riding
redistribution hearings since then, there has been an idea about all
ridings being approximately equal in population. It is the over riding
goal albeit a twisted one.

This is always worth repeating. While an ideal, this equal population
only works if the foundation of the state is a popular republic.
Unlike the USA Congressman the MPP just doesn't represent the people
in Parliament. The MPP also represents the Crown to her/his Riding.
Canada is a representative monarchy. The MPP swears to the Crown as
the representative of the people. The MPP is not the people's
representative. Rather they are the responsible elected agent of the
Crown to the people.

Again in all this, presently political parties are entirely secondary
to Canadian government. Ontario political parties only wish to deprive
Joe Citizen of even that political right. Political parties wish to
control the Ontario parliament, the people, the Crown be damned.

Lets define what a Riding began as. In times of yore it was decided by
the Crown that population was the secondary consideration to political
access to that MPP. A "Riding" was a distance that a single rider or
riding MPP could cover in the space of one day. From the idea it
wasn't just the idea of one person one vote but also it was firstly
the idea of one person equal access to government.

As it evolved into the 19th century, the idea of political access
predominated. In a city with dense populations the access could be
divided into access by statistics. But in the rural districts it was
political access that had to be considered first. Every citizen not
only has an equal vote but every citizen must have an equal access to
government.

In the federal government redistribution circa 1974, there was a
significant shift from the idea. An MP from Northern Ontario named
Keith Penner fought hard against this change since it began the
decline of political access to government by citizens. His arguments
ring to this day. Basically it was an injustice to such a large
important territory so critical to Canada lose political power simply
because of a lower population compared with a dense urban area like
Toronto.

When Parliaments evolved the idea of political access dominated versus
a population factor for represenetation. How does this work?

Presently I live in Toronto not by choice. The riding in which I live
probably has about 120,000 or so. To access my MPP I simply have to
walk up to College Street and walk into his office. Also there is the
option of simply going to a ceremony or community social function or
funeral. The MPP should likely be there.

In Northern Ontario, today that same political access to Crown
representation is not there. The MPP is an able hard working person
but cannot give the same quality of representation. The size of his
"Riding" is too large. The office is in Thunder Bay. Despite his best
efforts the MPP cannot go to the social functions or funerals that
urban MPPs can. Simply stating. A Northern Ontario Joe Citizen has far
poorer access to representation than a Toronto Joe Citizen.

Even though there maybe only 80,000 people in the riding and in theory
the MPP represents far fewer people the quality of representation
remains mitigated by geography, distance and adverse climates. Since
1974 that quality of representation has reduced significantly and
Northern Ontario residents are only second class citizens due to an
inane drive to determine Ridings based on population alone.

This inequality resides in rural southern Ontario as well although not
to the significant degree. An MPP in that Riding can drive to any
social function within several hours travel and be back in the
legislature the very next day, but the rural citizen doesn't have the
same easy access to political representation Toronto residents do.

Now with the advent of Proportional Representation this access will
be even further diminished. A city like Toronto or London has more
members. They will chose those members by outright vote to be the ones
nominated to that class of MPP. In Northern Ontario the only
representatives that will represent them will be only those members
that southern Ontario party members chose.

The only difference between Northern Ontario Joe Citizen's access to
political influence and the rural person in southern Ontario is only
in the degree. Proportional Representation, if adopted is simply a
naked power grab by urban centric political parties.

Political responsibility

And who gains access to these proportional MPs? In a
Riding/Constituency system the MPP remains uncomfortably responsible
for that Riding. A proportional MPP doesn't answer to anyone save the
political party they belong to. They will not have the same right to
cross the floor in a dispute with their political party mandarins.
Political freedoms so long protected by historical evolution are now
gone if Proportional Representation is adopted.

Again, who does the Premier or Cabinet member be responsible to if
she/he is a Proportional Member? People do not have the right to
complain to this person. The idea violates the very heart of
Parliamentary democracy because Proportional MPPs are responsible only
to the parties political, not the people, not the crown, only to a
vested interest.

And this is why few Political Parties stand up to oppose this faulty
idea. Proportional Representation skews and begins the wrecking of the
Canadian, of the Ontario political system. And the personal rights to
equal political access for all is further diminished.

Gord Campbell
Toronto

Whew kno?

Whow, what a run the poor female species of the species has been running of late. About a month ago a "scientific" report stated that women had germ ridden hands. To start off this week, now it emerges that they are green too.

A legacy for the future generations provided. This leads in so many directions. Its one of those topics that can lead to thousands of discussion points.

Below an excerpt from the report.


-------------

Genders come colour coded, study asserts
Tom Spears, Canwest News Service
Published: Monday, December 08, 2008

OTTAWA - White men are red. White women are green, or at least tinted greenish, in a Morticia Addams vein.

But there's a deeper surprise underlying this one, says the researcher at Brown University in Rhode Island who scanned through hundreds of faces to analyze pigments.

Demise of american movie making

Once the hope for american entertainment, Ron Howard, proves just another unimaginative Howlywood hack. Outtake clips shown to promote movies are usually the "best" points in the movie. If true, Frost/Nixon, violates the environmental act in so many ways classified into waste of energy, time and simple polluting.

No I don't have to see the movie. The person playing Nixon is so far away from Richard M. Nixon that the character sounds more like a Sean Connery take off. I happened to live through Nixon times. And that, is not Nixon.

Howard should be checked out for dyslexia. He learns little.

Reviews on a gaime

If there is a morning after pill, the National Football League (NFL) needs it. Universally, the Toronto print media panned the event.

Live reviewers complained about all the commercial breaks in the action. There were a lot of fans who also thought that the Canadian Football League was a poor cousin. But after going to some CFL games myself, there are few commercial breaks and the flow of the game moves quickly. Having the game played in the same venue gave the same impression.

The Fan590 which is also owned by the Rogers Media Co., the major sponsor of the event, even panned it. The best quote being "...dog, with fleas."

Another wag said... "Go Argos!"

Phootbawl

Today, 67 years ago, Pearl Harbor was attacked. Twenty seven years ago today, Zig Campbell my father passed away. Today the Miami Dolfins played the Buffalo Bulls in the first National Football League game in Canada.

Nothing can be done about about the first two events, but after viewing the game played in the same venue as the Argonuts. For once we can compare. I still prefer the Canadian Football type of game.

Fast food

Did ya hear that Ottawa has a new fast food. (ans.) Prorogies.

And I stole that one. That's why its funny. Its the favorite of most polls(Poles)says I.

So the big chicken took the cowards way out and put the kiaboscha on Parliament. Most Canadians apparently support Harper against the "Coalition". Its because the ordinary Canadian doesn't know how their own Parliament works, and what is, and what is not Democracy. Its the problem of living to close to the USA.

Harper claims that the idea that a coalition is anti-democratic; frankly is pompous fuming. Even he knows that a lie. The majority of Canadians voted not for the Cornservatives but for those other parties. If they can work together, ...fine.

The other issue is working with Separatists. Big deal. Quebec has had Separatist governments a couple of times. Last I looked they were still hooked up to the old wagon. Its only a Coalition on money bills or bills deemed "a question of confidence" by the Cabinet.

And the Bloc Quebecois possesses a liberal policy base on most social issues which effects all Canadians including Quebecois. They get paid federally, and they swear allegiance to the crown or they could not take their seats. So they are entitled to support any government they wish. Do you think the hard core Separatists are exactly enthused about the BQ supporting a federalist coalition government? Likely not.

The only thing that a prorogation of Parliament does is delay. Come the later part of January, things can turn swiftly. Most of the Cornservative media thinks this tactic is a good idea. It may not be. While most Canadians back the Cornservatives at the moment, voters will also have time to absorb the issues better so that the political result may work to the Coalition's favor.

Absence of fondness

Coming into the Christmas season, Prime Minister Harper seeks a meeting with Governor General Jean val Jean. Depending on the strategy, Harper will likely seek a prorogue of Parliament.

Not having a parliament in place for a couple of months won't be too troublesome. I remember when the Ontario bureaucracy went out on strike around 1996. They were not at work for weeks. And no one really noticed.

The idea of not having any government happenings during the Christmas season makes me love the government even more. Of course, this occurring during an alleged economic crisis seems strange. It gives Canada the excuse. There is a lack of leadership, some will say. One cannot have a diminished value of something we never did have to begin with.

Disappointment

This is musing. It could be amusing. Waves of disappointment swept the city about two days ago. Environment Canada gave weather watches for snow in the Toronto area. Downtown Toronto got no snow.

People widely anticipated such white whispy deluge. The weatherman's forecast of fear failed the test. Every place around the city got clobbered with the bleached precipitation. Toronto's citizens were both joyed and disappointed.

Now I've lived down here, in this city for a couple of decades now. I got some experience with the habit. The weatherman had his shot. Now its mine.

Based on history, when a storm warning fails. The following storm always nails this city's little ears back. The first major storm always chokes the city.

My theory is that people have short term memories here. It matters little that the previous ten warnings were accurate, it is the last forecast that people remember. In that train of thought, the impact of the first major storm this season will be far greater than the normal response because people will not believe the forecast weather watches.

So if there isn't a major storm choking this city right off,then I will be disappointed. Such is the nature of the beast.

Rant A-12156

Related to the telecommunications economic sector, here a short rant. I mean who does the programming at Global television? They move shows around weekly. Its annoying.

Rant #A-12156

Pyramid

Change will come to the Rogers Communications empire. Ted Rogers passed away this morning. It matters little whether one likes or dislikes Rogers. His passing does mean a change in the telecommunications sector in Canada. It impacts.

Rogers was 75 years old. He apparently suffered from a serious heart condition.

Rogers cable bills will increase. The pyramid will be built behind his home.

Definition

Defined - independent trip: Where traveler is not required to, or dutied to; travel in the company of, or visit ...a relative or a friend, or another person's friend, or any person or animal who lived in the home town.

In other words a truly enjoyable journey.