Business

Booming Under Bush??

Mulder

And we don’t mean booming as in bombs. But in a real bombshell of a story, Larry Kudlow cracks open the economic benefit of the Bush tax cuts.

Did you know that just over the past 11 quarters, dating back to the June 2003 Bush tax cuts, America has increased the size of its entire economy by 20 percent? In less than three years, the U.S. economic pie has expanded by $2.2 trillion, an output add-on that is roughly the same size as the total Chinese economy, and much larger than the total economic size of nations like India, Mexico, Ireland, and Belgium.

Once again the right shows that tax cuts benefit the economy and the public.  I can see the Democrats running for cover as we speak.
H/T to Kate

Garth May Sound Right, But He Is Wrong On Per Diems

Mulder

I have seen quite a few Blogging Tories praise Garth Turner for his view on some of the perks being given to MPs and Cabinet Ministers with regards to per diem expenses and having them applied to mortgages.

I hate to go against my BT friends, but I have worked in jobs that have worked on per diem expenses and I have worked on jobs that let you write off specific expenses with the appropriate explanation.

And in the private sector if you have a per diem food expense (let’s say for example $40 per day), then you get that money whether you spend $30 on food or if you spend $60 on food. What a frugal person saves and puts away to spend on whatever they want, be it a mortgage or saving for baby’s new pair of shoes is irrelevant. The per diem expenditure companies make is not something they follow up on.

The whole purpose of per diems was to minimize expense reports and follow up or verification that the expenses submitted were valid.
Many of you know I am quite frugal when it comes to spending tax dollars and that I am quite a fiscal conservative but their is a clear division here.

When a per diem guidelines is set up the only two primary issues should be a) what days should an MP receive a per diem? and b) how much that per diem should be.

How the MP chooses to spend that per diem is up to them. Just as a per diem dining expense rewards the guy who eats McDonalds vs. the guy who eats at Hy’s, a lodging per diem can reward the guy who pays part of his mortgage with it vs. staying in a hotel. Remember, that MP’s do not (or SHOULD not) get the per diem when parliament is not sitting, so if they choose to invest in a home, they still have plenty of time throughout the year to pay their mortgage without a per diem out of their own pockets.

Comments?

Re-Aim Traffic Cameras At Gas Station Price Boards

Mulder

Today while heading out to meet a friend for a GST reduced Tim Horton’s coffee, I heard Ron Corbett of the Ottawa Citizen on CFRA talking about the fact that five provinces now have some sort of control over the price of gas. He was looking for people to call in with their opinions so I decided to make the call.

I told Ron that I would rather get a fair shake with supply and demand. Microeconomics 101. Setting prices will create shortages or surplusses.

I then suggested we take all the traffic cameras lining the highways and aim them at gas station price boards. It would not take long before collusion was easily proved and irrefutable. A simple analysis of any gas stations tanker purchases cross referenced with the cost they charge would easily prove this.

Ron actually enjoyed the idea and I hope he runs with it in one of his upcoming articles.

Brookstreet … A Hotel Of Kings Now Too? There Go The Room Rates!!

Mulder

The Marshes Golf Course is pretty nice. But the prices are way too high. Links style or not, I have only played there when they have deals or when someone else is paying because I much prefer Loch March.

But the prestigious golf course, located a mere 500 meters from my office, is part of the Brookstreet Hotel complex which is hosting a group that is even more secretive than the Free Masons.

The Bilderberg Group is in Ottawa this week and staying at the hotel I put my suppliers up in.

Despite being sick as a dog, I need to go to the office tomorrow for a couple of sales calls. I might just have to pass by the gorgeous, (and often empty due to the room rates) hotel and see if I can recognize anyone before security tosses me out on my ass. Ironically, the same doormen who do are the ones who consistently open the doors for me when I go to pick up those suppliers to go on sales calls. Ahh the irony of it all.

Enjoy your stay in our town Kingmakers. In light of this high profile meeting, I have to wonder if the Toronto 17 were arrested just in case this meeting was a possible target. This is one of the first years the get together is being publicized.

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.

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.

Tim Horton's To Open In Kandahar!! My Boycott Is Almost Over!!

Mulder

Finally, that sweet, addictive, creamy Timmy’s Double Double will be passing my lips, going over my gums, because look out Kandahar, here it comes!!!

Tonight on CTV Newsnet, Sandra Jansen reported that Tim Horton’s has agreed to open up a Tim Horton’s mobile truck type store in Kandahar for our brave soldiers.  My 37 day strike had numerous posts here, and here, and here following up on what the status was.  But, finally, I see the light (shade of a Double Double) at the end of the tunnel.  And just in time to win myself a Rav 4 in the Rrrrrooooll up the Rrrimmmm to Win contest!!

After joining North American Patriot, BBS, Free Dominion, The Reclusive Antiquarian, Uncle Meat (who will not be running the shop), Lucious Phil and Brent Colbert in the boycott, I am hoping my fellow boycotters will be just as pleased as me to hear this news.

Hillier Willing To Escort Tim Horton's Kahuna To Afghanistan

Mulder

Well, the hype surrounding getting a Tim Horton’s in Afghanistan is growing. The Ottawa Sun had a poll on it and now General Rick Hillier is speaking about it.

American troops in Afghanistan have access to fast food from Pizza Hut and Burger King, but the Canadians can’t get fresh Timbits.Hillier says it would be a big morale-booster to have a coffee shop in Kandahar.

“I invite the CEO of Tim Hortons to come with me to Afghanistan and see the powerful implications that would come from that.”

The company said in a statement that it’s working with the Forces on having its products available in Afghanistan.

H/T to Blue Blogging Soapbox.

Tim Horton's In Kandahar? Am I Missing Something Here?

Mulder

While reading the paper today, I was perusing the first few pages, and catching up on Gordon O’Connor’s announcement on the intentions of the Ministry of Defence, when something leapt out at me.

Canadians may be taking over the region but they will still be guests at Kandahar Airfield, the U.S. base with 9,500 troops and civilians from a host of countries. Canadians have set up headquarters and a Canada House tent and patio where they can sip Tim Hortons coffee and watch the Olympics on TV.

(emphasis mine)

Did I read correctly?  Are they actually sipping Tim Horton’s??  Can I possibly end my protest?  If anyone has a friend in the military who is in Kandahar, I would love to know what they mean by “sip Tim Horton’s coffee”.
For my tastebud’s sake, I hope it’s a real cup of Timmy’s.  But I have a feeling that it is just homebrewed from a tin can.

RIM Fights Back – Creator Of Crackberry Blackberry Creates Workaround

Mulder

And the scales tip…..

Research In Motion, the creator of the infamous Blackberry and supporting “always on” technologies has turned the tables on NTP, Inc.

Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today provided an update in the patent litigation between RIM and NTP, Inc. (“NTP”). RIM has developed and tested software workaround designs for all BlackBerry® handsets operating on converged voice/data networks in the United States. Although there is no injunction order in place, and RIM believes it has strong legal and factual arguments opposing an injunction, RIM has developed these software workaround designs as a contingency to allow BlackBerry service to continue should the court implement an injunction in the current litigation involving the NTP patents.

This is exactly the way a perfect capitalist society should operate. RIM has built a new mousetrap to ensure customers are not let down and probably saved themselves Billions in royalty payments to NTP. Good old Canadian technology. You have to be proud of this company’s reputation in the world.

The whole article gets pretty legal and technical, but worth a gander for American Blackberry owners. There is no changes yet, but there is still some dispute over the transition period. NTP wants a 30 day one, and RIM has said this is too short. This may determine when users need to go get the latest software upload. You might want to bookmark the following link.

Blackberry Workaround Site