Someone reminded me about this thing.

I suppose I should get back to posting once in a while. Given the political void Federally, there are no shortage of topics to pick that provide opportunity for a good rant.

Wot?

A little fun

Had a brain f@rt earlier, and thought I would pass on this monster of an idea for a Liberal National Anthem. Would be great for the next leadership convention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_e0RmoHb0Y

I reserve the rights of course, so better hurry before the Western Alliance adopts it for a Victory song after the next election. K?

On that note, was this really written for Peter McKay?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm34ZLlIvQg&NR=1

Is Irving Oil firing a warning shot?

Good morning Comrades, some interesting developments on the political front lately. Besides the antsy positions of a number of political entities, it appears Mr. Kenneth Irving has something for them to mull over. Below is a CBC article based on statements made by Mr. Irving at the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers conference held in Saint John N.B. recently.

Read the article carefully and take particular note of Mr. Irving's position on how no-one can predict future energy trends. What is Mr. Irving trying to say exactly and who is it that he speaks for?

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2009/09/16/nb-irving-oil-energy-554.html

Taxation (To be continued......) and Attack Ads

http://www.gilescartoons.co.uk/cartoon.asp?cartoon=527

Well maybe it's not quite that bad, but close!

On the subject of those putrid attack ads that both major parties seem intent on badgering our sensibilities with, I would like to offer some inspiration on the subject.

Now if you politickers have a sense of humor, imagine this picture;

Harper to one side in cap and gown, complete with tassle receiving a diploma from Paul Martin bearing the inscription "Liberal Economics 101"

Next to him is Ignatieff, complete with Beanie.... hugging his latest text, "Politicking for Dummies".

There is a little orangey colored dog yapping at their feet and a stately looking gentlemen with nice hair stands smiling while reaching for his paycheck. He is mumbling something about getting a pension for the rest of his life.

Now that's a political cartoon worthy of Giles.

Fred says, "Martha! Let's get us one of them new fangled 'lektric cars!"

Old Fred then says, "Then mebbe we should invest in stock in some company thet makes 'stension cords. "

Heard the latest? Ontario plans some kind of grant of up to $10,000 for folks who purchase an electric auto.

http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2009/07/15/ont-electric-cars511.html

Better yet Fred, invest in security devices for external electrical outlets. heh...

Well, you know I'm all for anything even remotely positive regarding the development and use of electric vehicles, but I have a question. Considering the current state of supply and demand of electricity, brown outs and all that, how exactly is this all going to work?

Shouldn't we be thinking about buying another horse or two before going whole hog with the cart.....er car?

Yes Charlotte, there is more to life than just Real Estate. Woof Woof

The title of this long overdue entry has nothing whatsoever to do with what I am about to post. The title is intended for those currently engaged in barking rather than meaningful blogging, and they know who they are.

The following I wish to post without commentary, other than to say it represents what was in one persons heart and mind at a given point in their personal journey.

May 28, 2006

Who Cares if A Soldier Dies?

Take a man and put him alone,
Put him twelve thousand miles from home.

Empty his heart of all but blood,
Make him live in sand, in mud.

This is the life I have to live,
This the soul to God I give.

You have your parties and drink your beer,
While young men are dying over here.

Plant your signs on the White House lawn;
"Lets get out of Iraq".

Use your signs and have your fun,
Then refuse to use a gun.

There's nothing else for you to do,
Then I'm supposed to die for you?

There is one thing that you should know;
And that's where I think you should go!

I'm already here and it's too late.
I've traded all my love for all this hate.

I'll hate you till the day I die.
You made me hear my buddy cry.

I saw his leg and his blood shed,
Then I heard them say, "This one's dead".

It was a large price for him to pay,
To let you live another day.

He had the guts to fight and die,
To keep the freedom you live by.

By his dying, your life he buys,
But who cares if a Soldier dies?

Where oh where do the tax $ go? Oh where oh where can they be?

Have you, or someone you know had need of Medical and or Hospital services in recent years? If so, how would you rate the services and would you say they were satisfactory overall?

Having had considerable personal experience in this area over the course of some decades, I have come to believe that the following story from the CBC is indicative of many of the ills encompassed in the trough now known as Health Care in Canada.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/06/17/ehealth-ontario-mcguinty.html

A few highlights from yet, the latest scandal;

"Opposition parties continued their calls for Health Minister David Caplan's resignation due to his handling of the scandal, but McGuinty stood by his minister on Wednesday, saying he still has confidence in Caplan.

Meanwhile, the search continues to replace Sarah Kramer, who departed the agency more than a week ago after seven months as CEO and president. She received a severance package worth 10 months' salary, or about $317,000.

Kramer was lambasted for receiving a $114,000 bonus, more than double the amount allowed at the provincial agency. Hudson signed off on the bonus just four months after Kramer started.

Two reviews underway

The former CEO was also responsible for signing off on many of the untendered contracts during her first months at work. She defended the lack of a competitive bidding process, saying it was justified due to the urgency of the agency's work.

Under the old rules, provincial agencies were required to put contracts up for tender if they surpassed $100,000 unless they involve legal services, an urgent circumstance or a patented product unique to a single supplier.

EHealth expenses

Some of the consulting costs incurred at eHealth:

• A $2,700-a-day consultant charging for a $3.26 muffin and tea.
• A $300-an-hour consultant, charging for reading an article on electronic health records given to her by her husband, another consultant.
• Two consultants serving as vice-presidents and flown regularly from homes in Alberta.
• A $1,700-a-day executive assistant.
• Consultants charging to watch an eHealth episode on TVO's The Agenda and "debriefing" on the Toronto subway."

And that friends, is only the tip of the iceberg based on my experiences. Check the comments section for some enlightened views on the matter. I read a few and most have something of value to add to understanding the nature of the problems. None that I read pointed directly to the reality that the problems stem from the top down. Those in the most senior positions running amok in the world of privilege they create for themselves, and the attitude of subordinates that this generates.

No one can do anything without authorization from above, and authorization takes forever largely due to several factors. The most significant of which being a lack of real commitment and posturing. These people do not spend adequate time and effort following up on the effects of their policies and are either largely clueless as to the effects, or are busy trying to cover up the truths and making themselves unavailable. The one thing they have an abundance of though, is excuses.

Another glaring problem is the non unionized administrative people have come from a University environment where a half days effort on the ground is the norm and they continue this approach on the job. This mentality permeates the unionized workers thinking and work ethic. On the flip side, the unionized workers have a set of clear rules which determine such things as hours of work, rate of pay and holidays. The non unionized administrative and medical personnel aspire to enjoy the same benefits, and many do. Both of these things work against efficient delivery of medical services and efficient use of tax dollars allocated to this most important of services.

There is a disconnect between the policy makers, the administrations and those on the floor doing the daily work. This is largely due to a lack of supervision by people such as middle managers whose days are spent just about anywhere but on the floor of the facilities they work in, supervising the personnel they are responsible for. The lack of co-ordinated training and the wide variety of methods being employed and base of knowledge of those actually delivering the Health services is evidence of this. Further, they do not come around after their daytime work day hours expire in order to determine exactly how all of their brain storming, and multiple meetings are working out at ground level. The responsibility for that is left to underlings whose main thrust is to maintain minimum standards, or in other words, whose goal it is not to rock the boat.

Last comment on this line of thought, way too many shingles with professional titles hanging outside of closed doors, the occupants of said offices rarely if ever being seen.

Given the challenges that the many obstacles present, it is especially important to discuss the efforts of those who are committed and manage to perform at an exceptionally high level. They deserve our gratitude and respect and we the Peebles should take care not to associate them with segments that are not gifted, committed and capable. It is unfair to tarnish these people with the short comings of others. They deserve all the praise we can offer not only for what they accomplish day in and day out, but for maintaining a consistent moving forward attitude, in spite of the difficulties that surround them.

It is hard to soar like an Eagle when you work with turkeys, but some do manage it. For them, we should be eternally grateful.

Is North Korea following the examples of Israel and the Palestinians?

Good article here from Haaretz.com on the Israeli/Palestinian issues. In keeping with my personal thoughts, it suggests that those who squeak loudest receive the most attention.

"Over the years, Washington and the world have coddled both Israel and the Palestinians, whose behavior has come to resemble that of spoiled children.

Are they not deserving of sympathy? Of course they are. Never since the events of 1948 has the region seen a decade of such consistent violence, an extraordinarily high ratio of civilian casualties, and a universality of despair, as in the Second Intifada (2000-2004), the Second Lebanon War (2006) and the Gaza War (2008-9).

As with parents who become more and more indulgent the more clueless they realize they actually are - and the more out of control their kids get - Washington and the world have allowed Israel and the Palestinians both to run off the rails in whatever direction they happen to see fit at the moment.

Why? For the same reason that bad parents spoil their children:

They're afraid of them.

For generations, both Israelis and Palestinians have been snowing their respective allies, who have been afraid, either electorally or physically, of being perceived as not loving them enough."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1086355.html

A topic

Topics of the day;

So many to choose from. So many shrouded in smoke. How is an ode Country Boy to know which is worthy?

I know this, flogging the Horse known as Real Estate in perpetuity, represents little more than a Gypsy Queens efforts with her Crystal Ball.

The recent comings and goings in Iran has captured the Comrades spirit. I'm looking forward to Truth and Justice; over brutality.

Anyone can engage in brutality as in the case of Burma, . Only the gifted and truly devout, may speak clearly, earnestly and without thought for personal ambition.

I haven't picked a side there, but I'm hoping for the Ancient culture to show the World the way it's supposed to be done.

There's, is a truly Ancient culture that has traversed just about everything that a society could. So isn't it now time for them to remember?

I suppose it should be time, if it weren't for the ugliness of the souls of some many men; and women. If it weren't for the Zionists. If it weren't for age old Arabic/Persian realities?

And we in the New World have what attachment to all of that exactly?

I dunno, I'm just an ode Country Boy. Ask Mr. Harper, and Mr Ignatieff. They seem to be able to reconcile how it is that we, the Peebles of this Dominion of Canada, or New France, whichever one's preference may be, need to be involved in millenniums old conflicts and some very, very ugly and nasty goings on.

I note, neither were ever, ever front line Soldiers. Neither were ever, ever Medics attending to the dieing. I note these things.

I remember what it is to become involved in the hatreds of other peoples, other countries.

Albeit that I know little in the great scheme of things, this I do know. Pissing in other people's Worlds, just because you can, usually doesn't end well.

Many of the People, both in Iran and Canada and the rest of the this grand and most beautiful planet are speaking,. It is my hope, that good minds are listening.

Otherwise, I may well spend my last dollar in honor of those gone before me, and travel to the Volga, so's an ode Country Boy might piss into the the same river as did Men, far Greater than he.

Pro Patria

Only in America you say?

Ohio residents receive tickets for parking in their own driveways.

Here I thought Guelph Ontario had to hold the title of Kings of Arseholery when it came to zealous pursuit of it's peasants for parking fines.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090616/koddities/us_odd_ohio_driveway_tickets

Canada's Federal Politicians once again, conspire to hide the truth

Accountability Takes Another Hit with Changes to MP Conflict-of-Interest Rules

Posted June 10th, 2009

OTTAWA--The Green Party of Canada is stunned with the news that MPs approved changes to the House of Commons conflict-of-interest code after a secret committee meeting, with the result that cash and benefits they receive from political parties and riding associations will be exempt from public disclosure.

“This is bizarre,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May. “Money to public office holders from any source must be public. The potential for abuse in this new system is stunning.”

3,676 comments on latest Mulroney article, and then there's Rait

Don't know if you caught the Mulroney article on Yahoo news yesterday, but judging from the extraordinarily high volume of comments still being made regarding this issue, I think the mob wants blood. I didn't read all three thousand six hundred plus, but the twenty something I did read, were sufficient to indicate the mood of the mob. Mulphoney (was the term one poster used) is becoming the Canadian poster boy for sentiment regarding the recent economics. Couldn't happen to a more appropriate person in my view.

The odd curiosity is, the public now seem to be highly favoring the lovable Black Forrest troll, Onkle Karl. How amusing wot?

Then there is the Lisa Rait debacle. Fer cripes sakes, know when to cut your losses. If der Harper can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, perhaps he should pay a tad of attention to the election results from Nova Scotia. The Peebles are in a foul mood, and defending the incompetent isn't an endearing activity.

I'm not posting links Comrades, as I'm sure you are sufficiently apprised of these situations by now.

I would give some attention to the Liberalies as well, if they had accomplished anything other than blustering while using correct vocabulary. I suppose the ineffective approach that continues to plague the Liberals, would only serve to embolden the Repenters, er Reformers; ... oh whatever. I can imagine that the thought of voters choosing the Libs who can't even manage to run a good bluff these days, would be a great source of amusment for Harper.

I wonder how much comfort there is in being seen as the least worst pick?

Later Comrades.

RCMP commissioner is 'very sorry' about Dziekanski's death

Howdy Comrades. Long time no speak.

Was just browsing the current news and came across the following article at CBC. I found the comments very interesting so I thought I would post the link. It appears that many well spoken and articulate Canadians have some very strong feelings on this issue, the RCMP and it's Commissioner.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/06/01/rcmp-dziekanski.html#socialcomments

I wonder how long the Commish and the Government intend to continue their current approach?

Another story from today that definitely should thicken the soup;

"B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman ordered the province's RCMP service to pull all 578 of its older-model M-26 Tasers from service after testing showed the same models used by municipal police forces, sheriffs and corrections officers didn't meet the manufacturer's specifications 80 per cent of the time."

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/06/01/bc-government-pulls-tasers.html

Capitalist arrogance

"Food inflation in Canada is the highest it's been in 27 years, and most of the food retailers in Canada and around the world are showing pretty good (first-quarter results) - that's not a coincidence," Loblaw president and deputy chairman Alan Leighton said in a conference call with analysts.

http://ca.news.finance.yahoo.com/s/05052009/2/biz-finance-higher-food-prices-give-supermarket-chain-loblaw-73.html

Virtual Monopolies and collusion among the few as is the case with the grocery industry, produces predictable results. Banking, Oil, and Grocery clearly show the abuse by Capitalists and their political agents.

Big Brother says, "that's not a coincidence".

The People's Revolution must begin by first acknowledging the yoke, then making conscious efforts to shun it. Endlessly repeating the same tired old phrases changes nothing.

A made in the Region solution?

"Sayed Jalal, a former child prodigy famous across the country for brokering talks between Iran and the Taliban around a decade ago, plans to run for the presidency in August 20 elections on a promise of bringing peace through diplomacy."

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/090503/us/international_us_afghanistan_politics_jalal

Interesting possibilities in this article that lend speculation to number of possible outcomes.

Pakistani military launch offensive against Taliban

Apparently the move by the Pakistani government to allow Sharia law in Swat has only emboldened the Taliban. Big surprise. In the original article I read on this early today, a commenter suggested a relationship between Pakistan's desire for further substantial US aid and their handling of the Taliban. In short, the commenter suggested that the Taliban are good business for many in the Pakistani government. An interesting thought.

I wouldn't be surprised if a significant amount of that US aid finds it's way into the hands of the Taliban or it's sympathizers in the end. The US could well be financing both sides of the struggle to a large extent.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090428/wl_asia_afp/pakistanunrestnorthwestlead

Interesting article on Russia from Charlesius

Misery loves company. Thought I would highlight this article as it does say a great deal about the state of affairs in the World today.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/gc07/idUKTRE53F52K20090416

I had a few moments earlier to absorb some of the affairs of the day and saw the PM and Obama at the latest conference.

I wonder if those many leaders can find a truly useful direction. Can an offer of an open hand actually bring forward the best in those who are positioned to lead?

There is the story of the American born Iranian journalist sentenced to 8 yrs. by a Fundamentalist Iranian court and their PM, making overtures toward making efforts to show some good will.

Will they put aside the antagonism, the Imperialism, the politics and apply their abilities for once in my lifetime, to move forward together?

Sometimes I walk through the Valley of fools. Sometimes I walk through a Valley of Angels.

The Human condition.

I won't be bloggin much for a while. Explanation to follow

Just a brief note to explain my recent silence. My most immediate Family member has been severely injured in an accident.

I'll get by with a little help from my friends.. Part Two

New Brunswick may have it's own version of the Mulroney/Shreiber show brewing presently. It appears a business person operating in N.B. is displeased with a certain connected individual who now holds the CEO's post at NB Liquor Corporation and feels he did not receive services for which he paid the CEO during past years. Seems it relates to fees concerning consulting/lobbying. Sound familiar?

"A well-known New Brunswick Liberal and close friend of Premier Shawn Graham is facing a hearing before a judge under the province's Conflict of Interest Act."


Something else that is familiar is those pointed to are not talking.

"Clendenning, a former executive director of the New Brunswick Liberal Party, has repeatedly refused to discuss O'Donnell's allegations. "I will not be giving interviews on this matter," he said in an email in December. He refused again when approached by CBC News during an NB Liquor event in March."

And;

"Greg Byrne, the minister of Business New Brunswick, refused to be interviewed. In September 2007, his spokeswoman, Sarah Ketcheson, said the department had been "in the process of gathering information from" O'Donnell when he closed the call centre.

Byrne was also Clendenning's lawyer during his business dealings with O'Donnell. Byrne ended his law practice in October 2006, when he was sworn into cabinet. He was not representing Clendenning during the period covered by O'Donnell's complaint."

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/090414/canada/canada_newbrunswick_nb_clendenning_conflict

Isn't it interesting how, when details such as these are offered, they almost always come from one of the once upon a time players who feels slighted?

Reminds me of my days working for the Railways, and how so often when thieves were caught it was because other thieves resented the competition or were angry that the other one got something they wanted, and would perform their civic duty and turn in the other thief. Also interesting that the thief once caught, and without recourse, was only asked to resign. I'm talking some major thefts here, some cases running into hundreds of thousands.

Not so for someone caught shoplifting food.

Makes me think of the code of Honor among the Cosa Nostra. Well, the used to be code of Honor.

What's the world coming to I ask, when there is no code of Honor among thieves?

heh...

Could this lead to justice for the Sins of the Fathers? Not likely, not in N.B. Not in the Maritimes. We not only gave birth to the Nation, the Lord's and Seigneurs also pioneered tranferring the European Feudal system to our shores.

This story stirs a lot of old memories of the crushing weight of political patronage, and how those who are not in the inner circles, either by choice or circumstance, are given no consideration. They are merely the peasant class, the chattering masses, to be used or abused at will. Justice of the few, by the few, for the few.

I wrote about this phenomenon on Gart's site a some considerable time back. About refined Feudalism and about how the Corporate entities such as the one's we have here in N.B., including the fiefdom of Irving, allow no newspapers other than the one's they control. There have been extensive commisions on this monopoly situation, only to find in the Lord's favor. The fact that they controlled every newspaper of any significance didn't represent a threat to access of information. Yet, the Irvings have been accused of allocating up to $1 million dollars to drive out a very small newborn independent newspaper. Which, I would add, no longer exists.

I wrote then, coming to a place near you.

Remain silent, you of the chattering class, or they will unleash the dogs, and further the cull.

Or choose to stand your ground. It is up to you. From one who could never fit in the round hole, I will tell you, it's not easy to be different. I suspect, that as things are unfolding, it's not going to be easy to be the same either.

Ask not, what your Country can do for you. And remember, from pain, comes wisdom.

Icelands investigators looking into dealings of dethroned elite

"An investigation into “suspicions of criminal actions” has been launched, with institutions that attracted billions of pounds in deposits from thousands of UK citizens, businesses, local authorities and charities at its centre.

Amid mounting concern that illegal activity has occurred inside publicly-traded banks Gylfi Magnusson, Iceland’s business minister, has conceded there are similarities with the country’s banking system and failed US energy company Enron."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/5145969/Iceland-banking-inquiry-finds-murky-geysers-run-deep.html

The article speaks for itself, but doesn't it seem a little odd that these practices were so widespread, in so many countries during the same period in time? If that is just co-incidence, then it's just simply amazing!