¶OR At THE VERY LEAST MY OWN™

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Bro. Joe and Sis. Clarissa


For the few readers of the Canadian Perspective, I bet this picture looks familiar. Its the only picture of Joe and Clarissa that seems to load on the computer. Maybe Bro Byer was right when he said to email them to your self or just take them off someone elses blog, makes them load faster on dial up internet. I don't think Dr. Krohn will mind me taking the picture from his blog, its not as if he has site meter :)

Liberal on the rise? Or is a Myth?

That old Liberal swagger is back; is that suppose to be a good thing?

Monday, October 09, 2006

Russia = Soviet Union?


Is Russia any different from the old Soviet Union? Or is the great bear mearly sleeping, still ruling its own people by fear and corruption. Over the years Putin's government has maintained power by outright corruption. Russian opposition to his political ambitions suddenly find themselves out of work or murdered. For some of the Russian elite they didn't loose the Cold War, but are waiting for the right time to resume the fight.

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Yankees to Fire Manager


Four World Series titles, consecutive playoff appearances wasn't enough for Yankee owner George Steinbrenner, without a World Series scince 2000, its three strikes and your out. Torre will go down as one of the greatest Yankee Manager of all time.

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Turkey Facts: Here turkey, turkey, turkey

  1. Turkeys are able to adapt to a wide variety of habitats. However, most turkeys are found in hardwood forests with grassy areas.
  2. The best time to see a turkey is on a warm clear day or in a light rain.
  3. Turkeys have heart attacks. When the Air Force was conducting test runs and breaking the sound barrier, fields of turkeys would drop dead.
  4. Turkeys can drown if they look up when it is raining.
  5. Turkeys spend the night in trees. They fly to their roosts around sunset.
  6. Turkeys fly to the ground at first light and feed until mid-morning. Feeding resumes in mid-afternoon.
  7. Gobbling starts before sunrise and can continue through most of the morning.
  8. A wild turkey has excellent vision and hearing. Their field of vision is about 270 degrees. This is the main reason they continue to elude some hunters.
  9. A spooked turkey can run at speeds up to 20 miles per hour. They can also burst into flight approaching speeds between 50-55 mph in a matter of seconds.
  10. On January 31, 1957, Parliament proclaimed..."A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed ... to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.

Other Thanksgiving Turkey websites; Canadian Thanksgiving history

Friday, October 06, 2006

Thanksgiving


Joe and Clarissa are here from the USA. Its nice to have my little brother and soon to be sister home to celebrate the Queens proud history. As I'm sure you know from reading Joe's Blog, that the reason for Thanksgiving in Canada is to thank God for the Queens long reign or something like that.
I would post a picture of the nice looking couple, but after 30 min. I don't think its going to load:) dial up internet is all we have in the wild untame lands of Canada. Now I understand why Joe likes going to school in a nice civilized area that is eligible for high speed internet; even if their hockey team left there in favour of the Windsor area.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

On pace for 82

After the Maple Leafs first game, the team is currently on pace to go 0-82-0-0, while Sundin is on pace for an impressive 82 goal season. He may slacken his pace after a while, because the odds are he won't get 82 penalty shot attempt:). Oh well, at least Toronto's on pace to play 82 games, Monteal's on pace to miss the season going 0-0-0-0 :).

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

U.S. to stop seizing Canadian drug imports

New policy allows seniors to order cheaper prescriptions through the mail. The Bush administration can't say that Canada isn't a good neighbour now with all the cheap medication Canadian drug companies are dumping into the USA. Afterall one pill made in Canada is almost as good as one made in the USA :)

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Hockey Predictions- Western Conference

1. Anaheim Ducks - solid defence, with average scoring will secure top spot
2. Calgary Flames- will contend in the western conference
3. Nashville Predators- solid year- but will be an early exit in the playoffs
4. San Jose Sharks- will win the Stanley Cup
5. Detroit Red Wings - injuries, and lack of depth for the first time in years will secure a second place finish in their own division
6. Dallas Stars - Eric Lindros, a major addition- quick exit in the playoffs
7. Phoenix Coyotes- with their coach you have to hope for some kind of miracle
8. Vancouver Canucks - will fight to make the playoffs, as goaltending doesn't make up for lost offense
9. Minnesota Wild- too much defense, with very poor offense leaves them on the outside looking in
10. Colorado Avalanche- will struggle if their goaltending falls apart, weakest Aves team in years
11. Edmonton Oilers- free agents lost will leave the western conference winners near the western conference basement this year
12. Los Angeles Kings- the Kings will once again be without a crown
13 Columbus Blue Jackets- How can a team in Ohio expect to make the playoffs :)
14 St. Louis Blues- well at least Weight returned as a Stanley Cup champion
15 Chicago Blackhawks- too much money spent on too little goaltending

Hockey Predictions- Eastern Conference

1. Carolina Hurricanes - if Ward can maintain form, they will win their own division and finish first in the league
2. Ottawa Senators - the offense will keep them in division lead, goaltending will let them down in the playoffs once again
3. New York Rangers - divisions winners, in a division that might emerge as one of the weakest in the east
4. Philadelphia Flyers- will be back as a power house as long as their players can keep healthy
5. Tampa Bay Lightning- with all that offense they have to make the play offs
6. Buffalo Sabres - loose some ground by loosing key offensive players, owners need to get used to spending money on players salaries
7. Montreal Canadiens - on the bubble depending on how new wingers react and whether their goaltending can be kept up as good as it was last year
8. Toronto Maple Leafs - will fight with the teams 7-12 to make the last two spots
9. New Jersey Devils - being over the salary cap could hurt the teams prospects at resigning key players
10. Florida Panthers - fighting for a playoff spot, with new additions on the wing, and new goaltending, can Ed Belfour make a difference in Palm city?
11. Atlanta Thrashers - on the bubble, need goaltending
12. Boston Bruins - another year out of the playoffs
13. Pittsburg - only time can improve this team
14. NYI - owner deserves to be in last place for his unorthodox business decisions
15. Washington - one player can't carry the whole team

Conference Champion - going to Stanley Cup finals to loose to a team in the Western Conference

Monday, October 02, 2006

Windsor to Have Professional Hockey!!!

Mon, October 2, 2006 AHL Board approves franchise move
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League’s Board of Governors today granted conditional approval of the sale and relocation of the inactive AHL franchise owned by Gardens Hockey Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio, to Ice Track Corporation of Windsor, Ont.
Project Ice Track is a proposed multi-purpose entertainment complex to be built in the Windsor area, to include a 6,500-seat arena and an adjacent practice facility. The arena is scheduled to open in time for the 2008-09 AHL season.
In operation since 1936, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 80 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and for the fifth year in a row, more than 6.3 million fans attended AHL games across North America in 2005-06. The AHL’s 71st regular season begins on Wed., Oct. 4.

History of the AHL Cincinnati franchise

Friday, September 29, 2006

The Real Home Run Champion

Ryan Howard deserves the home run record, he has a chance to pass Roger Maris number of 61. Now I know everyone including Ribs are saying what about Sammy Sosa (66), Mark McGwire (70) and Barry Bonds (73)? That can be easily explained away. Howard is a natural home run hitter who is NOT on drugs whereas Sosa, McGwire and Bonds have clearly taken steroids. Bonds may be even given a prison term because he lied to a grand jury about his involment in the Baseball Steroid Scandal. So In my opinion Howard deserves the recognition for breaking the record if he can just hit 4 more home runs before the end of the baseball season this weekend.

Baseball silent as Howard nears 61 HRs

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Rainbow

This rainbow was seen in the sky just after supper. How fitting sense the story that I'm telling for Sunday School is Noah's ark. The following pictures are of course Noah's ark and pictures of two animals that I'm sure were on the ark as well :)

Raining Cats and Dogs

My Cousins Dog Teddy (a former US President)
and My Mother's favourite cat (notice the "u" in favourite) Fluffy. Notice the evil glare, obviously this female cat was experiencing a bad hair day and I failed to notice :)

Treaty Violation


U.S. puts machine-guns on Great Lakes coast guard vessels

The American Government has moved to violate the treaty that ended the War of 1812. The treaty only permits one armed vessal per lake along the Canadian- USA water border. However according to the 2003 treaty revision it seems perfectly legal regardless of what the media may or Toronto's Mayor might say.

Who knows, maybe the violation of the treaty will mean that was between Canada and the US will break out again :)

Etobicoke MP and Liberal leadership hopeful Michael Ignatieff, waves his fist in the air after learning that Conservatives fear him the most. After all he is a former Harvard professor, there probably afraid of his PHD :). One thing there not afraid of is his seemingly lack on ability to control what he says :). Sounds like an ideal Liberal candidate to me. Afterall why wouldn't they want a leader that voices out against Canada's native policy and Canada's traditional foreign policy.
If Michael Ignatieff wins the nomination to lead the Federal Liberals, its going to be hard for him to speak out against PM Harper's alleged American actions sense he lived in the USA for almost 20 years. According to the Income Tax Act, unless he owned property in Canada, he wouldn't even have been a resident for tax purposes over the decades that he was absent from Canada.
He must think a lot of himself to think he can come back after living in a foreign country and claim he's Canadian enough to run for leader of the opposition. Afterall if the Conservatives falter, Canda will be left with a Harvard professor who may or may not know what Canada's all about. :)

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

BMO buying Indianapolis bank

Now some of my cousings in the Indiana area can go to a financial insitution owned by a Canadian Bank :) As we all know Canadian banks have a better record than American banks. Looking back to the Great Depression and the untold millions of US banks that collapsed compared to just 2 Canadian branches during the 1930's.

Monday, September 25, 2006

Liberal Scandal Reaches front Runner

Vote scandal hits Ignatieff
The only front runner untouched by this scandal is Rae. Makes one think that it was his people that uncovered the dirt and spoon fed it to the media. As a possible future Liberal leader, Rae could be the next non-Conervative Prime Minister of Canada. It is unclear in the polls whether Harper can continue to maintain support to win another election. If Harper could win another election, wouldn't the opposition look scary with two exteme left leaders (Rae and Layton)?

Makes one recall the Chrysler and Daimler merger in 1998, when it was suppose to be an equal partnership but ended up being a Daimler takeover. Maybe Rae isn't really Liberal? Maybe he's a Layton henchman trying to bring down the Liberals so that the NDP could come to power?

I guess with an American- Conservative government in power in Canada, its perfectly acceptable to believe in conspiracy theories. :)

Robin Hood: False Assumptions


Robin Hood was Welsh and never went to Nottingham, claims book

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Big Liberal Scandal

Liberals Show that they don't have to be in office to have a ScandalIt's hard to believe that potential Liberal leadership contenders would forge people's names and add them to the voters list to elect a new Liberal leader. How could they be corrput before being elected Liberal leader? I guess their getting a head start :). Hopefully they were prudent enough to forge Liberals on instead of Conservatives. Isn't it amazing the number of members that signed up and paid their fees on July 4 in time to participate in the leadership vote? I don't know how people that were deceased could have done that, but I suppose if you Liberal anythings possible. But you may not want to believe the above link as it was reported by the Liberal Toronto Star (previous BBB post) :)

Friday, September 22, 2006

What will they think of next?

Sisters win right to play hockey with the boys
Should girls be allowed to play hockey with boys in organized leagues? What will they want next? The right to vote? :)

Afghan mission 'balanced'


Afghan president Hamid Karzai thanks Canada, offers condolences to families who lost soldier sons, daughters.

The only question that remains is if his comments and Prime Minister Stephen Harpers comments in support of the Afgan mission will be enough to maintain public and parlamentry support that has repeatedly fallen off. I'm not sure if Karzai's condolences is enough in return for helping his government stay in power. Hopefully the USA lead allies are not making similar mistakes that they made in the cold war in supporting a government that can't support itself in a war torn country. It seems that supporting an American supported regime is asking for trouble in the long-term peace keeping efforts in that region.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Elevator to the Space Station?

Express lift to the stars
How could a thin piece of metal hold two elevators going up and down? Sounds far fetched to me, but it was reported on CNN, so it must be true :)

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Pre-Season Hockey has started...

How true, its sad being a Montreal Canadian Fan :)

Ethics Begin at Home

MBA students likelier to cheatThe study found that 56 per cent of graduate business students admitted to cheating in the last year, compared with 47 per cent of non-business students. More than 5,000 MBA students from 11 graduate business schools in Canada and 21 schools in the U.S. took part.

The Business MBA students cheating record is interesting, especially sense they are the corporate leaders of the major Dow Jones and TSX companies of the future. Can any one sense another Enron or WorldCom in the future? I think it would be a safe bet. :)

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Who Knew?


'We respect Islam': Bush

Sabres are a crime against fashion





Over the Years the symbol of the Buffalo Sabres certainly has changed from the charging buffalo and sabres crossed to just the menacing buffalo to finally the yellow buffalo that looks more like a ram. I guess theres a compeition in the NHL to find out who can come up with the weirdest looking uniforms :)

Monday, September 18, 2006

The Gossipy Pastor

Carl and Sam were at odds with each other. They could not even remember the initial cause of friction...but their hostility had festered through the years.
Pastor Fred was deeply concerned, so he prayed that God would use him as a peacemaker.
Pastor Fred called on Carl. "What do you think of Sam?" he asked.
"He's the sorriest guy in town!" Carl growled
"But," Pastor Fred replied, "you have to admit that he's a hard-working man."
"No one can deny that," said Carl. "I've never known a person who worked harder."
The next day Pastor Fred visited Sam. "Do you know what Carl said about you?"
"No, but I can imagine his lies," Sam responded angrily.
"This may surprise you," said Pastor Fred, "but he said he's never known a harder worker."
"He said that?" Sam was stunned.
"By the way, what do you think of Carl?" Pastor Fred asked Sam.
"It is no secret that I have absolutely no use for him." Sam replied slowly.
"But you must admit he's honest in business," said Pastor Fred.
"There's no getting around that," said Sam grudgingly. "In business he's a man you can trust."
The next day Pastor Fred met Carl again. "Do you know what Sam said about you? He claims you're absolutely trustworthy in business, that you are scrupulously honest."
"Well, how 'bout that," reacted Carl with a smile.
Soon the gossipy Pastor noticed Sam and Carl would cautiously nod to each other in a friendly sort of way. Before long they were shaking hands, talking, even visiting in each other's homes. Today they are best of friends.
Many people, even church folk, seem to delight in promoting a fight by carrying news of ill-will. Learn a lesson from Pastor Fred's tactic of positive-gossip. Let your *gossip* be to spread words of praise and healing. THAT's the only gossip that's worthy of a Christian.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

The Pope's a Coward

Story Book Gardens


On the BBB the, Byer's have taken a recent trip to the mystical land of Story Book Gardens. Here's how it looked when we were little.

Tweedledum and Tweedlede

Eggs Sunny Side Up :)

King of the Castle

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Taypayers pay For New arena

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to have a new practise arena, and the taxpayers of Toronto seem to be footing a large portion of the bill. I would have thought they would just own their own practise arena and increase ticket prices again. After all for people in Toronto, they have two choices to see a OVER priced Leaf came or pay their rent... Seems like a tough decision eh? Unfortunately most people choose the Leafs, which leads to higher and higher prices, as some desparate fans will pay anything to see their team up close. Why not listen to it on the radio, thats free, and you don't have to worry about subscibing to Leafs TV to see all the games, after all the radio announcers are much better than the TV announcers, as the TV guys sometimes take the play by play for granted because you can see whats going on for yourself; accept for Joe Bowen of course, who was a radio announcer long before he got into TV broadcasting :)

Textbook free for all

A new wiki-project has been started at the University of Georgia, which aims to pool knowledge in free online texts.

Free textbooks, I wonder how the publishers and writers will get paid, maybe they'll write the text books for free:) or fill the site with massive amounts of advertisments...

Friday, September 15, 2006

2010 Winter Olympics

B.C. Auditor sounds alarm over financing for Olympics

Whether its going to cost the province of British Columbia 600 million or 2.5 billion, its still going to be costly for the provincial tax payers. But maybe the pride of holding the Olypic games is worth having to sacrifice spending on healthcare and education?

Typically Liberal

Liberals hurt themselves with smears

NDP wins by-election in Ontario.

Well It wasn't a Conservative win (far from it as they only got 17% of the vote), but at least the Liberals lost one seat in the Ontario Legislature!

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

DiPietro deal 15-years, $67M


This is one of the longest deals ever. How could an NHL owner give such a long contract to one player who may not turn out as great as the expectation that is placed upon him? 67.5 over 15 years is a good amount of change.

Only in the USA free market system could you see such reckless expenditure of funds. What was the owner of the New York Islanders thinking? First giving Yashin a 10 year deal in 2001 and now a 15 year deal to DiPetro. The deal won't be over until 2021! The answer of the question what was he thinking.... he wasn't!

So what is Canada?

For my faithful American readership (55% of viewers) it might be useful to know important facts about Canada. The BBC has a good summary of Canada and its current political, economic and sociological atmosphere.

One Question before you click on the link:
Who is Canada's current Prime Minister?

:)

One Million Ways to Die

According to this article its more safe to take an air plane than to drive or walk down the street.

Ancient Legend born out of the 1930's

What some people won't say or do to deny the truth or how far reporters will go to find a story. For years people have tried to deny the sacrificial death of Christ. It appears that a 70 year old hox has come to light were it is claimed that Jesus died in Japan, and didn't die on the cross. Ironically, on his grave is a large cross; but why would they choose to put a cross on his grave if the ancient Japanese from the 1930's didn't believe that he really did die to save them from their sins?

The Japanese Jesus trail

Blog Lacks Journalistic Integrity

No I'm not talking about my blog, after all, I'll I do is copy links from newspapers :). I'm refering to the gossip rag better known as the Ribs Report. Ribs has steadly lost subscribers since he faked Rib's death to gain extra readership. But now I believe he has gone to far, as I'm sure some of the people that he talks about are gathered around his computer with torches, ready to set the record straight :). One offended person was quoted as saying "the only good hamster is a dead hamster" :)

Monday, September 11, 2006

Man Feels Old Part 2


This is part of an "Adam" comic strip. I though it shared some enligtening commentary about recent events. Todays link says as Paul Harvey would say "the rest of the story"

Harper Responds to Critics

Is sending more troops to a region that the US has abandoned the right thing to do? George Bush has forgotten about the war on terror all together. Now he focuses on the war on oil and those countries that form the axis of oil :)

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Man admits to growing old!!


"Last evening I was playing some basketball with the young people of the church and somehow threw my back out (not too major here...I think). It's been really neat. If I bend over the wrong way, or try to sleep comfortably...yikes! Anyway, it seems to be a little better this evening, but I might still have to see the chiropractor Monday. It's tough being old."

Space shuttle Atlantis lifts off

The Space station can now be completed, with that new piece there planning to add to it, the power supply should increase by a significant amount. Who knows, soon the space program may be boldy going where no man has gone before.. to Mars... And why not spend a few trillion for a space station on mars, after all then instead of fighting over minerals on earth we could have massive space battles and fight over the resources that Scientist anticipate finding on the Moon and Mars...
When they build the space station aliens will exist on Mars. After all an alien is considered anyone not born in a specific region, so the people at the space station that will be built someday will also be considered aliens :)

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Ancient Change


Sumter Woman Finds Possible Ancient Coin In Grocery Change

Finally, A revamped Senate in the Works...

Who Controls Canada's Senate?
Liberals: Total-- 72
Trudeau's Dynasty Liberals: 11
Turner's Failed Liberals: 1
Chrétien The Man from Quebec: 43
Martin The Short Lived Success: 17
Tories: Total -- 24
Clark's Progressive Conservatives: 1
Mulroney's The Mighty PC: 22
Harper The Current: 1

Afghanistan a `moral promise:' Ignatieff


Canada can't pull troops, MP saysRelaunches bid for Liberal leadership

Potential Liberal Leader, to keep troops in Afghanistan if elected. I guess for those planning on voting to stay or leave the troops there now won't have much of a choice, as Ignatieff is the front runner to win the leadership race. After all of the seemingly poor leaders, the liberals want one that at least has a PHD :)

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Core Oil Production a proven Fact?



With the recent oil find in the Gulf of Mexico, some scientist are claiming that the 1000 of year old belief could be given validity. Philosophers believed that the earth naturally produces oil in its core, which could account for them finding oil 7 miles under the earths crust.

Stocks inch up, Gulf oil find helps Chevron

Oil & gas from the earth's core

Huge Oil Find Could Be Good News For U.S. Reserves

So what do you think? Does the earth produce a steady stream of oil within its core? Is the supply limited or unlimted?

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Hockey Great Calls for a Time Out

Ken Dryden is a leadership hopeful of the Federal Liberals. His ambition to govern sounds a lot like Sir Wilfred Laurier's when he said that "the 1900's would be Canada's centurary".
"[My government] would be very different than the present Conservative government . . . big in spirit, big in possibilities, big in ambition, big in the world. A big Canada,"

Sunday, September 03, 2006

ONION PATCH

This is the Song that my Grandma Taylor sang to me today, when we stoped in...
I'M A LONELY LITTLE PETUNIA IN AN ONION PATCH
Of all the saddest wordsThat I have ever heardThe saddest is the storyTold me by a birdHe had spent about and hour
Chatting with a flowerand here ís the tale the flower told
I'm a lonely little petunia in an onion patch,an onion patch, an onion patch
I'm a lonely little petunia in an onion patchand all I do is cry all day
Boo hoo, boo hoo
The air ís so strong it takes my breath away
I'm a lonely little petunia in an onion patch,
oh won't you come and play with me
Who put me in this bed?I'll bet his face is redI call him down with every teardrop that I shed
If I only had him hereI'd take him by the ear
And make him share my misery
I'm a lonely little petunia in an onion patch,an onion patch, an onion patch
I'm a lonely little petunia in an onion patchand all I do is cry all day
Boo hoo, boo hooThe air ís so strong it takes my breath away
(Feee-you!)
I'm a lonely little petunia in an onion patch,
oh won't you come and play with me

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Pre-paid plastic set to save on cheques

Rather than run up a monthly debt, a card user will draw down a positive cash balance, much as he or she would with a bank account. Users are less likely to lose their money, or take back-alley bruisings for the cash. If a card is stolen, the rightful owner will not be liable for losses. Carrying the card is also touted as offering convenience and prestige.

World’s smallest man greets the world

Such traditional points in the Guinness Book of Records include one particular nomination whose candidate is now the 14-year-old Khagendra Thapa Magar from Nepal. The news is, his whole height is approximately 50.8 cm and his body weight is only around 4.5 kg. Considering such an incredibly miniature size the teenager rightly believes that he deserves to be honored in the pages of the Guinness Book of Records. He has already submitted a request to be considered. Most likely he will be granted his request since the current record belongs to a Jordanian citizen whose height is approximately 64cm and whose weight is a whole 10 kg!
Thapa Magar was born in 1992, a couple of hundred km west of Katmandu . From the very beginning it became clear that the boy was far behind others in his growth process. According to his mother, the child began walking independently only at the age of 8 but by the time he was 11 he completely stopped growing. For a long time the parents hid the boy because they were ashamed of his defect but now he has received the long-awaited world-wide fame.

Thapa Magar now has his own support group that has created a special Internet website dedicated to him alone. The activists are hoping to use the site as a fundraising resource in order to gather enough money for the boy’s medical needs, for his education and for his family’s support.


Friday, September 01, 2006

Identity Thieves Steal Home

Paul Reviczky, 89, stands outside his house at 220 Sheppard Ave. W. The property was sold out from under him in May, likely by “tenants” who forged his name on a power of attorney. “I think he was targeted because he is elderly,” his niece says.

Theft of home prompts Ontario bill

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Harper's Government to Fall?

Liberals to oppose lumber agreement

The Liberals have joined the NDP in a surprising move to attempt to bring down the government. The Liberals should look back to when Harper was first elected to lead the Conservative Party, and the time it took to draft a new policy. They won't give their potential new leader any time to prepare, if they try to defeat the soft wood lumber bill.

Of course, the Harper threat of making it a confident motion could be just a threat, with no real substance. If that's the case the opposition parties (well at least the NDP) will cry out in defeat, as their positive that they can win one more seat with a new election :)

Remember a confidence motion unless stated other wise by the Prime Minister must be a money bill of some sort.

Harper's alright in the opinion polls and it would be political suicide for the Liberals to carry through with the threat. They must be confident that the Bloc will support Harper. After all the Liberals would hate to vote with the Conservatives when they don't have to. This way they can say in the next election that Harper was working with the Separatist's. Its the pot calling the kettle black isn't it?

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Know Your Rights

CRTC issues 'bill of rights'

Did you know that you're legally not supposed to get calls from telemarketers hawking their goods and services with automated recordings?

Ever bothered by annoying computer messages? Well CRTC wants Canadians to know their rights

Monday, August 28, 2006

Fountain of Youth

David Copperfield says he's found Fountain of Youth

I guess some people will say anything to attract visitors to their private resort. At $300,000 a week, it doesn't sound like a scam to me :)

Maybe he should just become a Christian and he won't need to worry about the fountain of youth.

California Candy Makers See Virgin Mary

Chocolatier believes column of chocolate drippings looks like the Virgin Mary (with photo). --AP

Friday, August 25, 2006

New Mayor of Chatham-Kent

Chip Gordon to run in the November mayoral race in Chatham-Kent, as Wallaceburg tries to regain control of the municipalities top
position sense they held it for a year in 1996, when Joe Talyor was Warden of the former Kent- County

What about the bottom 1.7 million?


"Have both governments and the Canadian public turned their backs on the poorest of the poor?"

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Harper needs Confidence?


Prime Minister Harper has threatened to make the lumber bill a confidence motion, that could result in the defeat of his government.

Pondering

Doug Gilmour could possibly become the coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs farm team the "moral's" Could this be a 5 year plan that may see the former hockey great coaching the leafs in 2011 or 2012? Wouldn't that be something to have Coach Gilmour and Assistant Coach Wendle Clark? :)

Another thing I've been pondering is the phrases that some people find offensive. Yesterday I saw a license plate that had "Red Power" written on it. Why can Natives claim what they do is a form of Red Power, and African Americans claim Black Power as there slogan but for a white individual to say white power makes them a racist? Maybe its part of North American culture, or the fact that the major wars were initiated by white ego menaces, or maybe its because of the hot weather or oil prices? :)

Friday, August 18, 2006

Joe's Getting Married

If you visit the enlightening blog of J.L Krohn you undoubtedly are aware of the news of the day. My dear friend Joe Krohn, is getting married. Joe is a really special friend to me, I feel like I've known him my whole life. Evidently he feels the same way because he asked me to be his best man.
He and Clarissa Elaine Atchley plan to marry on the second Saturday of June, 2007.

In interview Joe was quoted as saying "It was an exciting day, we went to Cateract Falls, in western Indiana. It was a very beautiful spot for a picnic lunch, walking, playing "catch-phrase", and reading the Bible and praying together. I asked Clarissa, at a section of rock, overlooking the Lower Cateract Falls. We then went to Chicago Pizza for supper, and then headed back to Westport. On the way we stopped at Wal-mart to purchase ice-cream for Clarissa's father (a Krohn family tradition) and I also got flowers for her mother."
Best of wishes Joe and Clarissa. I always wanted a brother and a sister.

P.S I finally got to out scoop the BBB on an important news story :)

Friday, August 04, 2006

The Apples are Falling

Investors of Apple Computer INC. now know the exhurbating experience that Newton experienced when the apple fell on his head (Newton's theory of "Universal Gravitatino")

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

12,000

No its not the number of hits on the BBB , but is included in some of the following:
  • The number 12000 is used 25 times in the Bible.
  • The surface of the Earth represents the 12000th part of the Sun.
  • The average distance from the Earth to the Sun is 12000 times the terrestrial diameter.
  • A brand of routers by Cisco (12000 Series Routers)
  • Tactile12000 which is Virtual turntable software for the manipulation of digital audio files.
  • And for Canadians its the value that the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) finished above today for the first time since May

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

The Paradox


Cuban President Fidel Castro, health is stable after surgery or is he?
Could his health condition be a secrete US plot to assassinate him?
Or maybe its the result of being a egoistic dictator for almost 50 years has finally got the better of him.

As the Cuban leader is reassured with public signs saying, "happy 80th birthday Fidel, rule for another 80" I am reminded of a short Canadian example illustrated verbally by my brother who is too busy to post on his blog right now (according to the BBB any ways).

Sir John A. Macdonalds (Canada's first Prime Minister) was praised with similar signs to that of Castro saying "You'll never die John A", and three months to the day he was dead.

It certainly is a paradox, (at least I think, maybe not, but it made a better sounding title)

Am I saying that historical and political rhetoric are against Castro's chances? Well I guess... but I'd hate to say something profound that would undermine my "Father of Accounting" article that are getting raved reviews on the BBB.

I think the BBB is like the British BBC only its in Canada, in direct competition with the CBC. :)

Monday, July 31, 2006

LEO and the Lions Den

Sunday School Story:

Many years ago there lived a lion named LEO.

From his early years as a cub, he was given the training and responsibility to be King Darius’s chief executioner.

He was the head lion of the noble king of the beasts.

One day as usual himself and his fellow lions were waiting at the usual spot to begin their daily work.

They looked up as the stone was rolled away, and they saw the king himself was a witnesses to the execution. LEO roared to his subordinates “come on boys, the King is here, we better make sure we do a good job”

LEO heard King Darius wail “Oh Daniel may the God you serve protect you”.
LEO wondered to himself that is was very strange to show regret to the man that was dropping in for brunch.

But as LEO would account to future generations of lions in the Kings service, there was something different about this man they called Daniel.

LEO recounted that his mates and him had no appetite to eat the prisoner. Oh well said LEO to himself there is always a mid-afternoon snack or dinner. But as the day and night progressed they still had no appetite.

LEO wondered to himself maybe the great creator of the animals wanted this man to live.

LEO then observed Daniel and saw that he was constantly murmuring a prayer. “AH I see” said LEO, “he’s still praying for his life.” But as LEO listen Daniel was praying for King Darius and the rest of the people.

LEO then confirmed in his mind that the creator of the animals did in deed want this man to live. So with a quiet word of comfort that a small kitty cat might do he sauntered over to were Daniel lay in prayer and sat down beside him to keep him warm through the cold dessert night.

The next morning LEO heard the stone being rolled away. He was hungry again, but only saw Daniel as an equal, not as something to eat. “Hmmm” said LEO, “Daniel sure looks scrawny I better make sure he gets a good portion of today’s feed.”

But to his surprise the King called out to Daniel and asked if he was still alive and then a rope was lowered and out went Daniel. “Wow” said LEO “he’s the first person to make it out of here from the top”.

LEO and his friends then felt really hungry when they heard King Darius order the men who arranged for Daniel to spend a night in the den to be cast in. LEO then heard the final commands of the King that truly Daniel’s God was the one true God and that he only should be worshipped.

“Amen” said LEO as he began his lunch.

Monday, July 24, 2006

Luca Pacioli "Father of Accounting"


Fra Luca Bartolomeo de Pacioli was a great Italian Mathematician and Accountant. He lived from 1445 to approximately 1514.

In 1470 he became a friar and travelled as a mathematics tutor until 1497.

Pacioli published several works on including:

  1. Summa de arithmetica, geometrica, proportioni et proportionalita (Venice 1494), a synthesis of the mathematical knowledge of his time.
  2. Geometry (1509), a Latin translation of Euclid.
    De divina proportione (Venice 1509),
  3. a work on mathematical and artistic proportion.
    Summa de arithmetica... included the first published description of the method of keeping accounts that Venetian merchants used during the Italian Renaissance, known as the double-entry accounting system.

Although Pacioli reported rather than invented this system, he is widely regarded as the "Father of Accounting". The system he published included most of the accounting cycle as we know it today. He described the use of journals and ledgers, and warned that a person should not go to sleep at night until the debits equalled the credits! His ledger had assets (including receivables and inventories), liabilities, capital, income, and expense accounts. He demonstrated year-end closing entries and proposed that a trial balance be used to prove a balanced ledger. Also, his treatise alludes to a wide range of topics from accounting ethics to cost accounting.

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Jays ship Hillenbrand to Giants

Following up on his promise to rid himself of Shea Hillenbrand, Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi traded the disgruntled infielder Friday night to the San Francisco Giants.

Ricciardi also shipped relief pitcher Vinnie Chulk to the Giants for reliever Jeremy Accardo.

Hillendbrand was designated for assignment Wednesday night after a series of events that led to a confrontation with Blue Jays manager John Gibbons.
While he was in the team's clubhouse, Hillenbrand wrote the words "Play for yourselves" and "This is a sinking ship" on the board.
The message prompted a clubhouse argument between Gibbons and Hillenbrand.
Gibbons reportedly challenged Hillenbrand to a fight in front of the team.
Hillenbrand then ripped the Jays' organization in an anger-filled tirade to reporters during batting practice.
Hillenbrand revealed his displeasure for not having a regular position and being used primarily as a designated hitter. He also claimed that management failed to congratulate him and his wife for adopting a baby girl.
Hillenbrand, who is making $5.8 million US this season, is batting .301 with 12 homers, 15 doubles and 39 RBI.
He'll likely take over the first base duties for the Giants.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Should Non-Taxpayers utilize Tax Dollars

Choppy start to sea escape

Should Lebanonese-Canadians (who have dual citizenship and reside permanently in Lebanon) pay for the aid that Canadian tax payers are so willing to send for free?

The American Goverment is charging their citizens for the transportation back to Crete. Shouldn't we be aiding Canadian tax-payers who actually live in Canada first.
According to the Canadian embassey in Lebanon only a fraction of people actually registered witht he embassy (meaning that this represented the Canadian tourists). Why should we as tax payers pay for individuals who have chosen another country over Canada. They don't meet the residency requirment as a Canadian tax payer, and should not enjoy the benefits that a truly Canadian citizen enjoys.

Monday, July 17, 2006

So You think that Taxable Income = Taxes Payable?

I'm sure none of you were taken by surprise of the not so clever title .

For a corporation's bookkeeping, taxable income never equals tax payable.

There are differences in the bottom line of accounting income and taxable income. Not all the expenses permitted by the CICA handbook and GAAP recognition are legitimate deductions from taxable income.

Two main differences include
  1. Temporary Differences: occurs in one period and then reveres itself out in subsequent periods. Example of this is depreciation, warranty costs, bond discounts or premiums etc. The depreciation method used by the corporate entity may not match the CCA reporting requirement for amortization to generate the entities taxable income.
  2. Permanent Differences: the item enters into the reconciliation of taxable income in one period, but does not create future income tax. Examples of these include 50% of meals and entertainment (only 50% are tax deductible), golf memberships (o% are tax deductible), dividends received by a Canadian Corporation from another Canadian Corporation.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Monkey Business

In 1705 Britain was at war with France. One morning on the beach of West Hartlepool, England, the villagers watched in amazement as a hairy stranger climbed out of a rowboat. The odd-looking creature jabbered unintelligibly. The stranger was actually an ape, previously the mascot of a wrecked ship. The villagers were not at all familiar with apes. They court-martialed the beast, found it guilty, and hanged it as a French spy.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Taxman Cartoon


You weren't planning on using ALL of the money you earned were you?

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Canada jumps 29 spots in FIFA rankings: Go Canada!!!

  1. Canada jumped a whopping 29 spots in FIFA's redesigned world soccer rankings to a best-ever 54th place.
  2. Canada made up huge ground on its May ranking of 83rd without playing a single game in the three-month span and without having an entry in the World Cup.
  3. Canada is sandwiched between No. 53 Guatemala and 54th-ranked Angola, which played in the World Cup.
  4. The team's previous best was No. 55 in 2000 when Canada won the Gold Cup and earned a berth in the Confederations Cup.
  5. The new system takes into account games played over the last four years instead of the last eight. It also changes the weighting system, with more importance given to World Cup games vs. friendly games. Regional strength is also considered, as are opponents, goals scored and conceded, and home or away venues.
  6. The United States and Mexico were two of the biggest losers.
    The United States, knocked out in the first round of the World Cup, dropped from No. 5 to 16. Mexico, which reached the second round, fell from No. 4 to 18.

Strange But True

  • A single share of Coca-Cola stock, purchased in 1919, when the company went public, would have been worth $92,500 in 1997.
  • Carbonated soda water was invented in 1767 by Joseph Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen.
  • Cheerios cereal was originally called Cheerioats.Chewing gum was patented in 1869 by William Semple.
  • Gatorade was named for the University of Florida Gators, where it was first developed.
  • Hershey's Kisses are called that, because the machine that makes them looks like its kissing the conveyor belt.
  • In 1984, a Canadian farmer began renting out advertising space on his cows.

(fromwww.crazynews.net)

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

ADAM SMITH ECONOMICS: Who was Left Behind?

In a new generation of internationalism and globalization has the idea of the ‘wealth of nations’ changed? A quick answer would be yes. The states represent a completely different establishment of economic progress and development. The enlightened period of the 1700’s gave way to the 1800’s industrialization and the 1900’s information age. The great economic genius Adam Smith could not have imagined the extent of humankind’s industrial and informational development. The benevolence of the baker, butcher, and brewer has not changed. Society depends on trade (using currency or barter methods), in order for the coexistence of a modern society with professions that may provide a vast array of services that are not necessary to sustain life. Overall, the original notion of Adam Smith’s view of real wealth is true today. He envisioned the real wealth of England not in the strength of the pound, or in the balance of trade, but in the ability to self-sustain itself. He claimed in one portion of the Wealth of Nations that society’s real wealth was in the sustainable products. It was not the services of a lawyer, accountant, or other tradesmen but in the grass roots of agriculture, that society is dependent.

In a “modern” world society places value on superfluous merchandise going beyond Mashlow’s Pyramid heights of self-actualization. Western Society has reached a pinnacle of self-actualization in which the majority’s basic needs are satisfied. This can be is seen in the low prices of essential food products. The real price of self-actualization is the sweat and blood of farmers. On a societal pyramid, the agriculturalist should be near the top. It has taken western society hundred of years to reach this period, not at the expense of industrialist but at the expense of the farmers. After two hundred years of progress, should not the agriculturalist be among the elite and wealthy? Without domestic agricultural, industrialization would be an ambition like establishing a space station on the moon (something that could be attainable someday with the right resources). Agriculture fueled the industrial revolution (and the human race), and then was promptly left behind by manufacturing industry supplying society with “more important” essential services.

So what can fix agriculture? Is it safe to put back the clock to an Amish dependent on farming, closing the world to globalization, or is it even feasible return to a simple a self-sustainable society? The answer can be determined by examining further alternatives. The manufacturing sector of the economy has held farmers hostage for too long. The chain of product refinement no longer stops at the farmer. The farmer whether his product is Soya Beans, Corn, Wheat, Carrots, Peas, Eggs, or Milk is required to sell his produce to the initial manufactures. They clean and cut the produce up and place it into neat little packages, bags, or cans. A one-step process two hundred years ago has become a long value chain. Government requirements to promote a healthy generation have placed health requirements on products like milk. A few decades ago, milk went in a bucket and then into an icebox. As manufacturing capacity grew, the industrialist started to play farmer and created a long-term problem whose initial results has created the mad cow scares. The basic solution to the problem of over-manufacturing is to scale back production and value chain growth and permit the natural resource growers to refine their own produce (get rid of the Canadian Wheat Board would be a good start). If the agricultural sector controlled the value-chain, farmers could get $0.20 for every loaf of bread instead of $0.01. This would not be attainable without the Government mandating the process. The only other solution to maintain the cost of production (today’s value chain) is for the Federal Government to intervene in some other form. To maintain the delicate economic balance at the grocery store the legislative bodies should subsidize the agricultural industry for lost profits due to the over-manufacturing of the products. The over-manufacturing and increased refining cost explains why commodity prices are ‘fixed’ low so that the rest of the value chain can make a profit. Its time that the Federal Government increased current subsidies ensure that there is a “P” for profit in the word agriculture, instead of a big “L” for losses.

Monday, July 10, 2006

Conservatives Caught up in Scandal!!!!

The small but proud province of Newfoundland has been shaken by allegations involving millions in misused public dollars. The Auditor General, John Noseworthy's investigations dealt with two things: MHA constituency allowances and questionable payments made to companies by the legislature.
  • Four politicians misused approximately $1 million from their constituency allowances (money given to members of the provincial legislature to pay for items such as office rentals, supplies and miscellaneous services).
  • More than $2.6 million was paid to three companies for trinkets like lapel pins and fridge magnets over a seven-year period, while an additional $170,000 went to a company owned by the legislature's now-suspended director of financial operations, Bill Murray.

The first public signs of scandal occurred on June 21 when Premier Danny Williams unexpectedly announced that Ed Byrne, a senior member of the provincial Tories, had stepped aside as natural resources minister because of a review by the auditor general's office.

  • Ed Byrne resigned his post as Newfoundland and Labrador's natural resources minister in June. [The announcement rocked political circles because Byrne, 43, had been one of Williams's most trusted colleagues. In 2001, Byrne stepped down as leader of the Progressive Conservatives to make way for Williams to lead the party. He has also served as government house leader in the legislature.]
  • The auditor general reported that Byrne had signed and submitted claims for $358,142 during the 2003 and 2004 fiscal years – or more than $326,000 above his $31,500 limit. All the money allegedly came from Byrne's constituency allowance, and Noseworthy claimed to have a paper trail of receipts and cancelled cheques showing the money was deposited into Byrne's personal bank accounts.
  • Noseworthy's office reported that payments totalling $2.8 million were made between 1999 and 2005 in untendered contracts to buy low-cost promotional materials items – including lapel pins, fridge magnets and key chains – as well as a number of more expensive items, including 79 gold rings for MHAs that cost $750 each, plus tax.
  • Payments were allegedly made to four companies: Zodiac Agencies, JAS Enterprises, Cedar Scents International and Unique Keepsakes.
    Noseworthy's staff also identified a possible conflict of interest when they reported Unique Keepsakes was tied to Bill Murray, who was suspended in June as the house's director of financial operations. Between 2001 and 2005, Unique Keepsakes received $170,000 of public money, Noseworthy found.
  • On July 4, Noseworthy said he has finished his investigation into spending at the house of assembly and will no longer talk publicly about the expense scandal. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is now investigating the matter.

Friday, July 07, 2006

::Can the Maple Leafs get Peca?::

Rib's once said that I should include hockey on this blog. Well Ok, just this once. According to rumers from the Fan 590, Peca wants to come to Toronto, for somewhat of a reduced salary. It's nice to see a hockey player taking a marginal pay cut to play for the best team in the league :).
Whats Montreal up to. The habnots have yet to dip into the free agent market. What will happen to Ribs blog if Jan isn't resigned. Well at least is was saved my the resigning of their real captin Mike Riberio.
Go Leafs, Down with the habsnots. :)



Just think if they can trade for Roberts the team will be as good as they were when they almost beat Buffalo in 1999. :)

Thursday, July 06, 2006

What is a Liability?

Have you ever got out of bed in the morning and wondered what is a liability? While I haven't but maybe you have.

A Liability is defined in section 1000.33 of the CICA handbook.

A liability must represent three things:
1. A highly profitable future sacrifice of assets or services.
2. Constituting a present obligation.
3. The result of a past transaction or event
(summarized by Thomas Beechy)

There are two types of liabilities:

1. Financial Liability: which is a financial instrument (which is a contract that gives rise to a financial asset of one party and a financial liability or equity of another party) (CICA 3855.17.a).

2. Non-financial Liability: is defined appropriately as what is NOT a financial liability :). This may include unearned or deferred revenue or estimated liabilities/expenses anticipated to arise in the future.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Portugal Falls to France

Portugal looses yet again to the unlikely French. What a match it would have been to see Italy play Portugal. I guess my barber will be really depressed until the next World Cup as his team lost again. I don't really follow soccer or football or whatever you want to call it. I just took the barbers word for it that it was the greatest team of our time. I hope France wins in the finals, at least then Portugal would have lost to the champions.

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Happy Canada Day

I know its July 2, and its almost July 3. I didn't mean to miss posting commentary on the joyous celebration of 139 years.

We got back from Shelbyville at 7:30 last night. I drove all the 9 hours, so I was kind of tired after we got home. Joe's back in the land of the stars and stripes finishing his internship. At least he wore his Canada tie today when he went to church. :)