Author: Mulder

Ottawa Bloggers – And Then There Were Four

Mulder

In an effort to keep things honest on the Ottawa Valley Blogroll, I have gone through the sites that were on the list and, with a heavy heart, removed those who have not chosen reciprocate by adding the roll to their sites.

Harsh? No. Just tough love. I still have many of those removed on my personal reading list. But in fairness to those who have put the link up, I have gone ahead and done the dirty deed.

If anyone out there in the Ottawa Valley wishes to be included (or readded), simply follow the link below for details on how to do so. I check my email regularly so it shouldn’t take more than 24 hours before you are added.

Instructions for joining Ottawa Valley Bloggers

Terrorists Busted In Canada!!!

Mulder

It was around 10pm last night when I heard the news that a dozen or so people were arrested (with more to come overnight) under Canada’s anti-terrorism laws. My heart leapt with pride for my hometown security forces.

The investigation, which has been ongoing since 2004, culminated in last night’s arrests. The individuals have been tied to explosives and CTV says that there may have been a series of terrorist attacks on our own soil prevented with the arrests.

It’s about time!! After hearing earlier this week that less than 10% of immigrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan have gone through appropriate security clearance, there has been a small sense of dread in me. That tiny voice that just yells inside, “Are you kidding me??? 10%?? From the hotbed of extremism??” That volume of that little voice has gone down a few deciBels after the announcement about the arrests.

Last night’s arrests bring faith and hope back to me. The report says that the cell is not al-Quaeda related but possibly a self starter and their are rumblings that some of those arrested attended a “training camp” north of Toronto. If they know of a camp north of our most populous city, then I am positive they are starting to track what has gone on there and this will likely lead to more arrests.

Sleep a little bit safer tonight Canada.

Mayorial Math 101 – Bob Chiarelli Fails With A $51 Million Dollar Error

Mulder

What’s wrong with this picture?

After the Sun reported yesterday that the $725-million budget for the north-south line could balloon to almost $900 million, Munter sent a letter to Mayor Bob Chiarelli, renewing his request that the city hire an independent auditor to look at the books to find the project’s true cost.

…

Chiarelli went on the defence yesterday, saying the real cost of the project is not $900 million. He said only portions of projects identified as raising the cost of the north-south line are related to building light-rail transit.

He said the list of projects reported in the Sun was “good news,” because portions of the $124 million worth of associated light-rail projects clearly identified in the 2006 budget will save the city money in the future. “We are taking advantage of the O-Train and increasing cost efficiencies substantially over the long haul,” he said.

The light rail system (O-Train) is going to be the issue which Bob Chiarelli will either be best known for, or live in infamy for. But I give him credit, he is plugging away at making sure it happens as hard as he can. So much so, that he has forgotten his grade 4 math.

My 9 year old helped me out with this one, sans calculator.

The O-Train was expected to cost $725 Million dollars.

The list of expenses is almost $900 Million dollars.

Mayor Bob says that $124 Million dollars of the $900 is programs which have already been accounted for through other city plans or will create future efficiencies.

Now for the tough mathematical part.

$900 Million (in overruns)
-$124 Million (mayor’s number which is not part of O-Train costs)
$776 Million

Hmmmmm……$725M has turned into $776M. We haven’t even approved the O-Train and the overrun is already mathematically $51 Million dollars.

I’m excited to see the CFRA poll on the topic indicate that over 86% of those who have voted on the subject think the O-Train should not be approved by the current city council. At last check after well over 2000 votes, 51% want it to wait until after the election, and over 35% want it added to the referendum in November, which means approval would fall to the next city council.

I have a feeling if the O-Train becomes the major election issue, that we will more than likely have a new mayor come November.

Remember This?

Mulder

Bloody Zit
Well Couche-Tard is at it again.

Last year, I wrote about the slushy drink that was being sold under the name “The Bloody Zit“. Couche-Tard, the owner of three convenience store brand names (Couche-Tard, Mac’s and Circle K) is going down the road of shock marketing for their new slushie. On CTV Newsnet this morning, I saw part of a commercial for their new drink which is taking bigger steps than a Bloody Zit. Now we have the Liposuction.

It starts out showing a doctor performing liposuction on a fairly large man. The doctor is digging away as the tube sucks his fat out. The camera then jumps to a youngster sucking on a fat clear tube as if the liposuction “suction” is being provided by the youngster.

Again, the convenience store owners have pushed the limits of advertising to the point of no return. Again, I will not let my kids order the drink, nor will I ever purchase one myself. In fact, this time I think I am just going to boycott the stores alltogether and do my convenience store shopping at Quickie Mart’s and Gas Stations.

Couche Tard … the Howard Stern of slushies … simply gross.

Say It Ain't So Joe Volpe – Campaign Donations From Minors?

Mulder

Liberal leadership candidate Joe Volpe must think we are all on generic Prozac to not notice what is going on. From the Globe and Mail:

Mr. Volpe has received donations of $5,400 each from five current and former executives of Apotex Inc. and 15 of their relatives, including some who are under 18.

Companies are banned by law from donating money to a federal leadership campaign and individuals cannot donate more than $5,400. The law also prohibits individuals from donating money on behalf of someone else.

…

Apotex chairman Barry Sherman, his wife Honey, and four of his children each donated $5,400, as did Apotex president Jack Kay, his wife Patricia, and two of his children.

A spokesman for Apotex, Elie Betito, told The Canadian Press last week that four of the children are teenagers. He did not return phone calls from The Globe and Mail.

A former vice-president of Apotex, Allen Shechtman, his wife Mary, and three of his children, also donated $5,400. Mr. Shechtman told The Globe on Monday that not all of the donors are adults, but did not specify their ages. He did not return a telephone call yesterday.

I guess when you can’t take corporate donations, you do the next best thing. Take close to $100,000 from the top executives (or ex-top execs), their spouses, and their children.

The Liberal leadership race was supposed to have been refreshing. You know what would be refreshing? Seeing Joe Volpe walking from house to house meeting people and asking for $25 or $50 donations. THAT would be refreshing. But we all know Joe Volpe doesn’t walk anywhere. He much prefers $1000 limousine rides.

Someone get me some Tylenol. None of that generic stuff for me. I support the research the brand name companies do. Hmmm… I remember reading something about the McGuinty Provincial Liberal plan to move drug plans to the generic market for cost savings recently. I wonder how much of this contract Apotex is going to get.

ADDENDUM: On Mike Duffy Live tonight, NDP MP Pat Martin mentioned that he thinks one of the children who made a $5400 donation to Volpe is 8 years old. This is getting quite interesting. I can’t wait to find out how this one ends. Now to note: It is not illegal for an 8 year old to donate to a politician, but the optics are brutal.

ADDENDUM: On the radio today (June 1st) I heard that there was a pair of 11 year old twins who were part of the donation list.  But I have not had confirmation of any 8 year olds other than Pat Martin’s thoughts yesterday on Mike Duffy Live.

I am also pleased to note that Joe Volpe has asked for a review of his donations and has asked that monies donated by the children be returned if the information is accurate that he received donations from them.  Maybe Joe does have an ounce of decency after all.

Convenience Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

Mulder

Yesterday, I arrived home to my usual pile of mail which in this case included a parking ticket. My first in years.

I noticed on the bill that my payment options included:

  • via Internet at ottawa.ca (Visa or Mastercard only, with payment of a service charge)
  • By Telephone (24 hours, 7 days a week, Visa or Mastercard only, with payment of a service charge)
  • By Mail (address was provided, no service charge)
  • In person (hours provided, no service charge)

Being a net savvy surfer I chose the internet, surfed over and within two clicks had my infraction up and paid it. However, I noticed the service charge was listed as a Convenience Fee.

How Officially Screwed is this?

I can pay via electronic means, putting money directly into the city coffers (read no delay in them getting interest on my money), with no human interaction (read no insane salaried employee needed), without wasting gas to drive there (read being environmentally friendly), without wasting time (read being productive to society by not taking time out of my busy day), without waiting in a lineup (read without generating heat which the city’s air conditioners must compensate for), etc etc etc. Yet I am the one paying the convenience fee. The city should be giving me a discount instead of charging me additional service charges.

The choice to pay via the telephone is similar. The savings to the city when people choose this format is just as pronounced as using the internet.

Yet, should I go in, where a real live person needs to deal with me, or if I mail in my checque which a real live person must handle, process, verify, and deposit, I get off without paying the additional $1.50.

I am not griping about the $1.50. I believe it is a good price for a convenience fee. However, I do believe this convenience fee, should be going the other way.

Officially Screwed … again.

Smackdown Of The Week (May 27th, 2006)

Mulder

In today’s National Post, page A10, Sue Montgomery’s article entitled Guite will not call witnesses at fraud trial

Two good summer students could have produced that

These words were spoken by Jacques Nantel, a marketing professeur with the Montreal based Ecole des hautes etudes commerciales, with regards to Groupaction getting paid $500,000 for a report on what Ottawa could do to increase it’s visibility. This took place in Chuck Guite’s trial.

So what Mr. Nantel is saying is that we, the tax payers, paid Groupaction half a million dollars when we could have paid two summer students for the same quality of report. All I know is that when I worked summers between college, I made anywhere from $7000 to $12000 depending on the job I got that summer.

Are you feeling better about the Liberals getting tossed out on their ears yet? I know I sure am.

From Cooking The Books To Bedding Down With Bubba

Mulder

In what was one of the most anticipated trial outcomes, Enron executives Jeff Skilling and Kenneth Lay were both found guilty today.

This was a trial and a story I followed relatively closely. The Eichenwald book Conspiracy of Fools got me hooked with a novelistic approach to what happened leading up to the company crashing.

I, for one, am pleased to see that multimillion dollar earning execs don’t have free reign to lie to the public and cheat their shareholders. (which in this case was pretty much every employee due to the stock option plans).

Ken Lay was found guilty of all six charges and Skilling 19 of the 28 charges, albeit not insider trading. Lay, who is getting on in years will likely see the inside of a jail cell for the rest of his days. Skilling could potentially see 185 years behind bars.

Both men were released on $5 Million dollar bonds until their sentencing dates and appeals will be pending. From what Jeff Toobin of CNN says, chances are slim the appeals will get them off the hook, meaning they can expect to be clanging their water cups against the bars for years to come. I wonder if the lifestyle they have lived for 30 or 40 years will be worth the last few getting buggered by some 300 lb cellmate named Cletus.

After screwing Enron shareholders out of their life savings, Skilling and Lay are both officially screwed for life now. Good riddance.

MK Braaten (and North American Patriot) Is Are Packing It Up…

Mulder

… and bloggers like me are pretty bummed out over it.

MK Braaten had a special gift for putting a good financial spin on subjects. His work in clarifying the Income Trust scandal for Canadians was just great. His answers to “tax”ing questions was much appreciated and I urge Blogging Tories all over to drop by his site and send thanks (or beg him to blog on)

Thanks Matt. You will be missed by many of us who enjoyed dropping by to read your words.

Best of luck to you.

ADDENDUM:  North American Patriot is also packing it up.  This is truly a sad day.  Two of the bloggers I enjoy(ed) reading most have called it quits.  I want to point out WonderWoman (North American Patriot) was one of the most outspoken, strong voiced, (not to mention hot) blogging tories out there.  I had the pleasure of being part of a small crew with her that boycotted Tim Hortons for over 30 days until they agreed to open a Tim Horton’s at the Kandahar airport for our boys in Afghanistan.

She will also truly be missed by many bloggers on the right side of both center and issues.

Keep fighting the Legion of Doom in your own way WW.  Best of luck to you too.

The Defence Calls Osama bin Laden

Mulder

How could we have been so wrong about Zacarias Moussaoui and his role in the September 11th attacks? I am just dumbstruck that we would tie him to that fateful day. We obviously must be drastically wrong. How do I know this? Cuz Osama says so. And we all know how honourable a man he is. (Ahhhhhh-Choooooobullshitooooooooo)

Ok, Ok. Let me take my tongue out of my cheek for a minute.

Mr. bin Laden, will you please take the stand? I would gladly accept your testimony in the case of Moussaoui if you would just show up in court on the appropriate date. We would dearly love to enter your words as an expert on knowing who is a terrorist and who is not. The FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, Interpol, CSIS, Mossad, MI5 and 6, and whoever else has helped put the story together must have their facts wrong. The Bush administration would be glad to pay for your airfare to the trial location, all meals paid for. They might even spring for your dialysis while travelling and I would be positively CERTAIN that your hotel stay would be paid for … indefinately.

Please come and testify. Moussauoi needs you. America needs you. Guantanamo needs you. A big bald 400 lb guy named Bubba needs you … as a cellmate.

All you need to do is pick up an unsecure phone, dial 911 and tell the dispatcher where you are. I think they would glad to send over a personal escort with armed security guards and all the perks I even bet that if you ask nicely, they would let you flick the switch that turns on the siren and lights. Wouldn’t that be neat?