Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A STEP FORWARD":
I must disagree with 20:06...
The results of the Auroran poll are INSIGNIFICANT.
The results are only for those that:
a. are online
b. have bothered to go to the Auroran web site
c. have bothered to register a vote
As far as the Auroran saying that the risk of skewing the results from multiple votes of the same person is low, their response is bogus.
I have just registered 10 votes from my computer in less than 10 minutes. If you know how, you can do it. They are being naive.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 5 September 2013 11:23
*********
The comment allows me to make a point in the argument.
Since the poll was heavily opposed to the expenditure for a youth facility. And since the comment purports to discredit the poll.
And since the. Comment claims to have been able to vote ten times in ten minutes. (The previous claim was twelve votes.) May. we assume the comment supports the expenditure and the multiple votes. cast in support of the expenditure still did not reduce the percentage in opposition .
Therefore the poll still stands.
Thursday, 5 September 2013
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
The less you know
Flipping through t.v. Channels today I heard someone make a statement aout how many thoughts pass through a personb's mind in a second. A lot.
I just read Maureen Dowd's column in the NewYork Times.Then I remembered a thought that went through my mind in the middle of the night recently.
I remembered reading a magazine article about chemical weapons being manufactured in Western Canada. It was a long time ago..
The chemical weapons in Syria are said to have been there a long time. Could they have been bought from a Canadian manufacturer ?
Are there any laws about that?
Why would chemical weapons be manufactured if they were not to be for sale somewhere?
Who would be responsible for the deaths of women.children and babies in those circumstances?
How would one go about finding the answers to those questions?
Before the second world war , British foundries supplied Germany with the materials for their re-armament. When the war ended , bills of lading from before the war were still waiting to be paid
By the Krupps industry.
I just read Maureen Dowd's column in the NewYork Times.Then I remembered a thought that went through my mind in the middle of the night recently.
I remembered reading a magazine article about chemical weapons being manufactured in Western Canada. It was a long time ago..
The chemical weapons in Syria are said to have been there a long time. Could they have been bought from a Canadian manufacturer ?
Are there any laws about that?
Why would chemical weapons be manufactured if they were not to be for sale somewhere?
Who would be responsible for the deaths of women.children and babies in those circumstances?
How would one go about finding the answers to those questions?
Before the second world war , British foundries supplied Germany with the materials for their re-armament. When the war ended , bills of lading from before the war were still waiting to be paid
By the Krupps industry.
A STEP FORWARD
Last week Councillors gathered for a training session in preparation for paperless agendas .
The program is designed by a former municipal clerk in Germany. It has been in use for twenty years
With various changes over the years to bring it to best performance.
Aside from man hours and materials ,which savings should be phenomenal, residents will have a substantial advantage over current service.
The agenda will be available on the town's web site. But that's not all. Reports and attachments will also be available to all on-line users. The only stuff that won't be available are in-camera materials
The town's record of minutes of meetings from the year 1956 will also be accessible.
That gargantuan task has already been undertaken and completed by the deputy clerk and manager of legislative services. I can't provide her name. Staff don't like to see their names in blogs. But she deserves a vote of appreciation.
Imagine the paper, the copying, the printing , the collating of pages and the pressure to meet the deadline for agendas to be ready that will no longer be a part of the routine.
Councillors will be provided with tablets to use while we are Councillors.
That's the part that makes me a little nervous though I must say the process seems surprisingly simple. I may have to eat those words.
There will still be a need for a few paper agendas. I keep wondering how many homes in Aurora are not on line and not receiving the benefit of on-line service. I think when we are talking about communications we really need to know how many people are getting it and how many not.
BTW I asked the Auroran editor if a person can vote on their polls multiple times. Enough to skew the vote.
Theoretically they can . But each vote would be ten hours apart and need time and patience and perseverance to make a poll inaccurate
Last night Council was discussing a schedule for budget meetings . Public participation came into it.
I reminded them of the Auroran poll showing more than 80% of residents opposed to the youth centre.
No attention was paid to that.
The program is designed by a former municipal clerk in Germany. It has been in use for twenty years
With various changes over the years to bring it to best performance.
Aside from man hours and materials ,which savings should be phenomenal, residents will have a substantial advantage over current service.
The agenda will be available on the town's web site. But that's not all. Reports and attachments will also be available to all on-line users. The only stuff that won't be available are in-camera materials
The town's record of minutes of meetings from the year 1956 will also be accessible.
That gargantuan task has already been undertaken and completed by the deputy clerk and manager of legislative services. I can't provide her name. Staff don't like to see their names in blogs. But she deserves a vote of appreciation.
Imagine the paper, the copying, the printing , the collating of pages and the pressure to meet the deadline for agendas to be ready that will no longer be a part of the routine.
Councillors will be provided with tablets to use while we are Councillors.
That's the part that makes me a little nervous though I must say the process seems surprisingly simple. I may have to eat those words.
There will still be a need for a few paper agendas. I keep wondering how many homes in Aurora are not on line and not receiving the benefit of on-line service. I think when we are talking about communications we really need to know how many people are getting it and how many not.
BTW I asked the Auroran editor if a person can vote on their polls multiple times. Enough to skew the vote.
Theoretically they can . But each vote would be ten hours apart and need time and patience and perseverance to make a poll inaccurate
Last night Council was discussing a schedule for budget meetings . Public participation came into it.
I reminded them of the Auroran poll showing more than 80% of residents opposed to the youth centre.
No attention was paid to that.
Lots of questions...few answers
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Stephanie's Return":
11:41... you forgot pepper spray!
Just like bleeding heart liberals say that police should aim their Glocks at legs to disable someone.... they are trained to target the largest part of the body to stop the perp... mind you, 9 shots may be a bit excessive.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 4 September 2013 09:07
**********************
The scene was videotaped by a family coming home from dinner out.
The passengers who had been on the bus said the young man looked and sounded like he was not
in touch with reality. He had ordered everyone off the bus . They did as they were told. No-one was hurt. He had a small pen-knife.
It seems twenty police officers were present.
One fired his weapon.
He fired nine times. Nine bullets.
After the youth was down another officer boarded the bus and tasered his lifeless body.
How can that be explained?
Which behaviour was more bizarre?
When were the S.I.U. Called to the scene ?
Was the police officer tested to determine what might have affected his judgement?
At the Police Chiefs' conference a couple of weeks later ,the Association President at a news conference said, the police should not be in the front line dealing with mental illness.
Why did they have to wait until an eighteen year old was riddled with nine police bullets before
Making that statement.
A year earlier when a police officer was senselessly killed by a snow plow being driven by a man not in his right mind, they charged him with murder.
Where does the question of judgement enter the picture?
How many more flim-flams will be thrown up to distract public attention from the horror of this event.
The President of the Toronto Police Association warns the public not to rush to judgement. Wait for all the facts to be known.
The Police Chief appoints a retired judge to conduct a study into police use of force.
The Province decides all police officers can be armed with tasers and pistols and as mentioned above pepper spray.
The president of the Police Chief;s association. Gets into
11:41... you forgot pepper spray!
Just like bleeding heart liberals say that police should aim their Glocks at legs to disable someone.... they are trained to target the largest part of the body to stop the perp... mind you, 9 shots may be a bit excessive.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 4 September 2013 09:07
**********************
The scene was videotaped by a family coming home from dinner out.
The passengers who had been on the bus said the young man looked and sounded like he was not
in touch with reality. He had ordered everyone off the bus . They did as they were told. No-one was hurt. He had a small pen-knife.
It seems twenty police officers were present.
One fired his weapon.
He fired nine times. Nine bullets.
After the youth was down another officer boarded the bus and tasered his lifeless body.
How can that be explained?
Which behaviour was more bizarre?
When were the S.I.U. Called to the scene ?
Was the police officer tested to determine what might have affected his judgement?
At the Police Chiefs' conference a couple of weeks later ,the Association President at a news conference said, the police should not be in the front line dealing with mental illness.
Why did they have to wait until an eighteen year old was riddled with nine police bullets before
Making that statement.
A year earlier when a police officer was senselessly killed by a snow plow being driven by a man not in his right mind, they charged him with murder.
Where does the question of judgement enter the picture?
How many more flim-flams will be thrown up to distract public attention from the horror of this event.
The President of the Toronto Police Association warns the public not to rush to judgement. Wait for all the facts to be known.
The Police Chief appoints a retired judge to conduct a study into police use of force.
The Province decides all police officers can be armed with tasers and pistols and as mentioned above pepper spray.
The president of the Police Chief;s association. Gets into
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
It's not all bad
Well...y'know...I don't claim to know everything. Neither do. I claim accuracy in all things.
Others accuse me of claiming to know better than anybody else about everything there is to know.
I do have opinions. It's a natural characteristic of Scottish folk. I tend to enjoy expounding my opinions. Another natural characteristic.
I say natural instead of national because I believe the geological nature of a place shapes the character of its people .
Scotland is severe in landscape and weather for the most part is grim and dreary as well. If we don't find something to laugh about in our misery, the chances are we would never even crack a grin.
It's a force majeur.
The humour tends to be different as well. It could probably be best described as sardonic. Sometimes it's even rougher than that but only another Gael would understand it. It's not meant to be shared outside the circle.
The blog gives us a chance to give vent to our reactions.
Which in turn, provokes someone who does know more about the subject to throw some light on it..
That can't be a bad thing....can it?
Others accuse me of claiming to know better than anybody else about everything there is to know.
I do have opinions. It's a natural characteristic of Scottish folk. I tend to enjoy expounding my opinions. Another natural characteristic.
I say natural instead of national because I believe the geological nature of a place shapes the character of its people .
Scotland is severe in landscape and weather for the most part is grim and dreary as well. If we don't find something to laugh about in our misery, the chances are we would never even crack a grin.
It's a force majeur.
The humour tends to be different as well. It could probably be best described as sardonic. Sometimes it's even rougher than that but only another Gael would understand it. It's not meant to be shared outside the circle.
The blog gives us a chance to give vent to our reactions.
Which in turn, provokes someone who does know more about the subject to throw some light on it..
That can't be a bad thing....can it?
Guest Post
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "It's Your Choice":
For someone that prides herself on being accurate, your accuracy is suspect sometimes.
The two warships that collided were the destroyer HMCS Algonquin and the resupply ship HMCS Protecteur. They were participating in a routine training execise.
These ships were not in Hudson's Bay becuase they are attached to the Pacific fleet!
They were practising towing one ship by the other. Clearly something went wrong. HMCS Protecteur was being towed and it's bow struck Algonquin on the port (left) side above the waterline.
In reading the posts about the modern military that you sometimes make, I wonder how much you and some of your readers really understand.
We have a huge physical country to service through our armed forces. Since the mis-management of the Trudeau administrations of the 60s and 70s, the size and capability of the armed forces have been reduced to the point that they are spread too thin. However, training must continue.
Anytime that you have two large ships operating at close range like a resupply ship, there is always a danger. In normal operations, the resupply ship comes along side of the receiving ship. Speeds and headings must be matched exactly. In the space between the two, a significant current is created that can potentially cause them to collide. It is a wonder that there are not more collisions.
The guys and girls on board those ships should be commended not made fun of in a blog.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 3 September 2013 09:44
For someone that prides herself on being accurate, your accuracy is suspect sometimes.
The two warships that collided were the destroyer HMCS Algonquin and the resupply ship HMCS Protecteur. They were participating in a routine training execise.
These ships were not in Hudson's Bay becuase they are attached to the Pacific fleet!
They were practising towing one ship by the other. Clearly something went wrong. HMCS Protecteur was being towed and it's bow struck Algonquin on the port (left) side above the waterline.
In reading the posts about the modern military that you sometimes make, I wonder how much you and some of your readers really understand.
We have a huge physical country to service through our armed forces. Since the mis-management of the Trudeau administrations of the 60s and 70s, the size and capability of the armed forces have been reduced to the point that they are spread too thin. However, training must continue.
Anytime that you have two large ships operating at close range like a resupply ship, there is always a danger. In normal operations, the resupply ship comes along side of the receiving ship. Speeds and headings must be matched exactly. In the space between the two, a significant current is created that can potentially cause them to collide. It is a wonder that there are not more collisions.
The guys and girls on board those ships should be commended not made fun of in a blog.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 3 September 2013 09:44
Stephanie's Return
My grand-daughter Stephanie wll be home today. Maybe tomorrow she will show me why copied and pasted comments keep popping up again and again.
The last sentence of the previous post was intended to note , there was no offer from the Province to pay for every police officer to be armed with taser guns. It will be millions ,possibly billions more dollars from the property tax.
Neither was there reference to the fact that tasers kill if used improperly.
If a police officer can stand in front of a snow plow and be run down and killed.
If another officer , a year later , can aim his gun at a person who has harmed no-one and pump nine bullets into his body and yet another follow through with a taser to the lifeless body.
If the Leader of a Federal political party and Leader of the same Provincial party talk casually about decriminalizing pot for political purposes and President of the Canadian Police Chiefs Association talk about the possession of pot not being a criminal offense ,without considering why people like to smoke it........why would others , of less influence , but with the power of life and death, not think it's O.K. to smoke pot when every ounce of judgement they possess is needed to carry out their legal function.
Laughing or crying, why should any of us feel we are getting what we are paying for fom the people who claim responsibility for national, provincial and municipal security ?
The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind.
The answer is blowing in the wind.
The last sentence of the previous post was intended to note , there was no offer from the Province to pay for every police officer to be armed with taser guns. It will be millions ,possibly billions more dollars from the property tax.
Neither was there reference to the fact that tasers kill if used improperly.
If a police officer can stand in front of a snow plow and be run down and killed.
If another officer , a year later , can aim his gun at a person who has harmed no-one and pump nine bullets into his body and yet another follow through with a taser to the lifeless body.
If the Leader of a Federal political party and Leader of the same Provincial party talk casually about decriminalizing pot for political purposes and President of the Canadian Police Chiefs Association talk about the possession of pot not being a criminal offense ,without considering why people like to smoke it........why would others , of less influence , but with the power of life and death, not think it's O.K. to smoke pot when every ounce of judgement they possess is needed to carry out their legal function.
Laughing or crying, why should any of us feel we are getting what we are paying for fom the people who claim responsibility for national, provincial and municipal security ?
The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind.
The answer is blowing in the wind.
Sequel to the last
Not in the least bit funny. People were killed.
Last winter, a Toronto police officer stood in front of a snow-plow being driven by a mad man . The officer was run over and killed.
A needless senseless death.
The officer received a hero's funeral.
The mad driver was tried for murder. The jury concluded he was not in his right mind and therefore not responsible for the death.
The Police Chief quickly stated he accepted the decision.
The President of the Police Association did not. In his view, a man who not in his right mind
Should have been found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.
There was no talk of adequacy of police training.
A couple of weeks ago, an eighteen year old terrorized fellow passengers on a TTC bus. He ordered them to get off the bus. His behaviour was sufficiently bizarre ,they did what he said after.
No-one was hurt.
Twenty police officers attended the scene. The youth was shot nine times by the same officer. Police weapons shoot one bullet at a time.
A second officer boarded the bus and shot a taser into the lifeless body at his feet.
The President of the Police Association cautioned the public not to "rush to judgement" We should
" wait for all the facts to be known".
Subsequently, the Chief announced the appointment of a retiring Judge to study "use of force" by th department.
Then a Provincial Cabinet Minister announced that all police offices can be armed with taser guns. If Police Service Boards authorize the measure was added.
The retiring judge appointed by the Police Chief promptly withdrew from his commitment to study use of force by Toronto Police.
A second judge has been appointed by the Chief.
It seems Toronto Police Service Board has nothing at all to say about anything . They have not been heard from.
The Retired Police Association has announced a parade to remember fallen officers.
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau has volunteered the information he has smoked pot. He inhaled it. He does not apologise for it. But he never took to it
The Honorable Kathleen Wynn joined the public confession but she too said she didn't like it much.
Pappa Bear Stephen Harper said when asked "Do I look like I smoked pot?" And everyone chuckled at the though
No-one talked about who would pay the Anonymous has left a new comment on your postpieces of the puzzle always came together":
I think I can help with this one. The Swiss will no longer accept bank accounts for individual Americans. It is required to show your passport - if that document is American, the response will be negative. The rule has been circumvented by companies registered elsewhere although their shareholders might be American.
That was a big problem for Romney in the election. There were trusts & companies which he would not discuss.
Publish
Delete
Mark as spam
Moderate comments for this blog.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 29 August 2013 12:40 of dollars of cost for taser guns.
Last winter, a Toronto police officer stood in front of a snow-plow being driven by a mad man . The officer was run over and killed.
A needless senseless death.
The officer received a hero's funeral.
The mad driver was tried for murder. The jury concluded he was not in his right mind and therefore not responsible for the death.
The Police Chief quickly stated he accepted the decision.
The President of the Police Association did not. In his view, a man who not in his right mind
Should have been found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.
There was no talk of adequacy of police training.
A couple of weeks ago, an eighteen year old terrorized fellow passengers on a TTC bus. He ordered them to get off the bus. His behaviour was sufficiently bizarre ,they did what he said after.
No-one was hurt.
Twenty police officers attended the scene. The youth was shot nine times by the same officer. Police weapons shoot one bullet at a time.
A second officer boarded the bus and shot a taser into the lifeless body at his feet.
The President of the Police Association cautioned the public not to "rush to judgement" We should
" wait for all the facts to be known".
Subsequently, the Chief announced the appointment of a retiring Judge to study "use of force" by th department.
Then a Provincial Cabinet Minister announced that all police offices can be armed with taser guns. If Police Service Boards authorize the measure was added.
The retiring judge appointed by the Police Chief promptly withdrew from his commitment to study use of force by Toronto Police.
A second judge has been appointed by the Chief.
It seems Toronto Police Service Board has nothing at all to say about anything . They have not been heard from.
The Retired Police Association has announced a parade to remember fallen officers.
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau has volunteered the information he has smoked pot. He inhaled it. He does not apologise for it. But he never took to it
The Honorable Kathleen Wynn joined the public confession but she too said she didn't like it much.
Pappa Bear Stephen Harper said when asked "Do I look like I smoked pot?" And everyone chuckled at the though
No-one talked about who would pay the Anonymous has left a new comment on your postpieces of the puzzle always came together":
I think I can help with this one. The Swiss will no longer accept bank accounts for individual Americans. It is required to show your passport - if that document is American, the response will be negative. The rule has been circumvented by companies registered elsewhere although their shareholders might be American.
That was a big problem for Romney in the election. There were trusts & companies which he would not discuss.
Publish
Delete
Mark as spam
Moderate comments for this blog.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 29 August 2013 12:40 of dollars of cost for taser guns.
It's Your Choice
Current news offers a kaleidoscope of impressions. One reader comments we should not make light of Canadian warships colliding in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean on their way to exercises
in Hawaii. "Someone might have been killed"
We can either laugh or we can cry.
A reader said we should not" make light of it. People could have been killed"
Thank God ,we are not crying.
It's a good thing the media quickly clamped down on the story Like the lease on our hydro building, they were probably told it's a question of national security
Think of what the American late -night- talks-show hosts could have made of it. And may still if or when they hear about it.
At the time two American warships were headed to the Gulf (Persian?) , no doubt loaded with armed missiles, the Canadian fleet was headed in the opposite direction; in such a hurry they banged into each other.
Doing so much damage to one, the statement was made , we won't be going back there again.
Like it had something to do with the location.
Why weren't they in Hudson's Bay in the first place?
Where was the Minister of Defense at the time ? On a mission to Hawaii perhaps?
Needing a lift home. Maybe thought to combine it and unlike those pesky extravagant senators save public expense with an inspection of the fleet at exercise at the same time.
Monty Python par excellence.
Similar to the fishing trip of his predecessor, Peter the potato farmer McKay of New Brunswick .
Who followed in his father's shoes into the Parliamentary seat he occupies.
When Fair Belinda crossed the floor of Parliament and left him behind, he hastened home to the
comfort of his canine friend and spent his time hefting sacks of the tasty tubers to help heal his broken heart.
in Hawaii. "Someone might have been killed"
We can either laugh or we can cry.
A reader said we should not" make light of it. People could have been killed"
Thank God ,we are not crying.
It's a good thing the media quickly clamped down on the story Like the lease on our hydro building, they were probably told it's a question of national security
Think of what the American late -night- talks-show hosts could have made of it. And may still if or when they hear about it.
At the time two American warships were headed to the Gulf (Persian?) , no doubt loaded with armed missiles, the Canadian fleet was headed in the opposite direction; in such a hurry they banged into each other.
Doing so much damage to one, the statement was made , we won't be going back there again.
Like it had something to do with the location.
Why weren't they in Hudson's Bay in the first place?
Where was the Minister of Defense at the time ? On a mission to Hawaii perhaps?
Needing a lift home. Maybe thought to combine it and unlike those pesky extravagant senators save public expense with an inspection of the fleet at exercise at the same time.
Monty Python par excellence.
Similar to the fishing trip of his predecessor, Peter the potato farmer McKay of New Brunswick .
Who followed in his father's shoes into the Parliamentary seat he occupies.
When Fair Belinda crossed the floor of Parliament and left him behind, he hastened home to the
comfort of his canine friend and spent his time hefting sacks of the tasty tubers to help heal his broken heart.
Saturday, 31 August 2013
Make sense of this if you can
So...this morning, before the UN Inspectors report their findings, the U S has found the Syrian government did gas their own citizens.
The Syrian government said they did not.
The Russian President said it is "utter nonsense" to suggest the Syrian government wold gas their own citizens.
He raises the question of how many Syrian residents would be killed by an American strike.
The Americans and the Russians have battleships in the Gulf.
If the Americans fired off a missile in a particular direction, could the Russians intercept it?
Would that mean the Cold War had been ignited.?
Israelis are said to be afraid they would become the target of a Syrian attack. People are buying gas masks in preparation.
The British government has rejected intervention in Syria. Remembering the war in Iraq based on false information.
The French military is ready to intervene if the President decides they should.
In Canada, Cabinet Minister the Honorable John. Baird says that although the Prime Minister has said we will not be militarily involved, we are in complete support of friends and allies.
At this point it's not exactly clear which fiends and akkies he's referring to.
This morning, two Canadian warships ,out in the open seas, on their way to Hawaii, bumped into each other. The Algonquin is coming home with significant damage and won't be sent back there again.
The U.S. government might be relieved to have only moral support rom Canada for whatever action they decide they can take with moral impunity.
The Syrian government said they did not.
The Russian President said it is "utter nonsense" to suggest the Syrian government wold gas their own citizens.
He raises the question of how many Syrian residents would be killed by an American strike.
The Americans and the Russians have battleships in the Gulf.
If the Americans fired off a missile in a particular direction, could the Russians intercept it?
Would that mean the Cold War had been ignited.?
Israelis are said to be afraid they would become the target of a Syrian attack. People are buying gas masks in preparation.
The British government has rejected intervention in Syria. Remembering the war in Iraq based on false information.
The French military is ready to intervene if the President decides they should.
In Canada, Cabinet Minister the Honorable John. Baird says that although the Prime Minister has said we will not be militarily involved, we are in complete support of friends and allies.
At this point it's not exactly clear which fiends and akkies he's referring to.
This morning, two Canadian warships ,out in the open seas, on their way to Hawaii, bumped into each other. The Algonquin is coming home with significant damage and won't be sent back there again.
The U.S. government might be relieved to have only moral support rom Canada for whatever action they decide they can take with moral impunity.
In Error
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The pieces of the puzzle always came together":
I think I can help with this one. The Swiss will no longer accept bank accounts for individual Americans. It is required to show your passport - if that document is American, the response will be negative. The rule has been circumvented by companies registered elsewhere although their shareholders might be American.
That was a big problem for Romney in the election. There were trusts & companies which he would not discuss.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 29 August 2013 12:40
*************
The above comment was accidentally deleted.
I think I can help with this one. The Swiss will no longer accept bank accounts for individual Americans. It is required to show your passport - if that document is American, the response will be negative. The rule has been circumvented by companies registered elsewhere although their shareholders might be American.
That was a big problem for Romney in the election. There were trusts & companies which he would not discuss.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 29 August 2013 12:40
*************
The above comment was accidentally deleted.
Thursday, 29 August 2013
The pieces of the puzzle always came together
At Christmas , when children were in the house, two gifts were traditional.
One was a paint-by-numbers poster. The other was a jigsaw puzzle of hundreds of pieces.
After the excitement of opening gifts, the family activity for the rest of the day , would be completion
of one or other of these two projects. The paint-by-numbers posters became harder to find .The jigsaw puzzles were a perennial.
The satisfaction of piecing together the puzzle within the time was immense. Doing it together added to the excitement.
I've found life to be similar to the jig-saw puzzle. Dozens of small indiscriminate pieces make up the whole.
They are all there. Everything has its place . In the end the picture will be complete.
Yesterday a small piece went together with no help from me.
I had referred to the role Swiss banks play in helping wealthy Americans evade taxes. It wasn't the focus of the post.
A lengthy , obviously knowledgeable response seemed to refute that minor detail.
A headline appeared last night on one of those twenty-four hour news channels:
The U.S. government is having discussions with Swiss banks about rich Americans using Swiss banks to evade paying taxes.
I think I probably learned in school about Swiss neutrality and the role of their banking system.
That's a long time ago.
U.S. government discussions with Swiss banks have probably been ongoing for years with neither energy nor success.
I think the U.S. economy, other practices like shipping jobs offshore ,leaving Americans
with massive unemployment and realization of "the dream" not being realized , gradually filtering down to the masses , may have put a burr under the saddle of the powers that be.
I can't help thinking about the Royal Bank and the speedy reaction of Canadians to the story about bank employees being required to train non- resident replacements for their jobs and government work permit rules being exploited .
Whether the bank stopped the practice is not clear . What was clear was Canadians lost no time
reacting against the bank.
I think the social media had a hand in that.
A piece of the puzzle dropped into the right place. .
One was a paint-by-numbers poster. The other was a jigsaw puzzle of hundreds of pieces.
After the excitement of opening gifts, the family activity for the rest of the day , would be completion
of one or other of these two projects. The paint-by-numbers posters became harder to find .The jigsaw puzzles were a perennial.
The satisfaction of piecing together the puzzle within the time was immense. Doing it together added to the excitement.
I've found life to be similar to the jig-saw puzzle. Dozens of small indiscriminate pieces make up the whole.
They are all there. Everything has its place . In the end the picture will be complete.
Yesterday a small piece went together with no help from me.
I had referred to the role Swiss banks play in helping wealthy Americans evade taxes. It wasn't the focus of the post.
A lengthy , obviously knowledgeable response seemed to refute that minor detail.
A headline appeared last night on one of those twenty-four hour news channels:
The U.S. government is having discussions with Swiss banks about rich Americans using Swiss banks to evade paying taxes.
I think I probably learned in school about Swiss neutrality and the role of their banking system.
That's a long time ago.
U.S. government discussions with Swiss banks have probably been ongoing for years with neither energy nor success.
I think the U.S. economy, other practices like shipping jobs offshore ,leaving Americans
with massive unemployment and realization of "the dream" not being realized , gradually filtering down to the masses , may have put a burr under the saddle of the powers that be.
I can't help thinking about the Royal Bank and the speedy reaction of Canadians to the story about bank employees being required to train non- resident replacements for their jobs and government work permit rules being exploited .
Whether the bank stopped the practice is not clear . What was clear was Canadians lost no time
reacting against the bank.
I think the social media had a hand in that.
A piece of the puzzle dropped into the right place. .
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
Definition of Irish Vernacular
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Age of Phobia":
Wasn't it a senior Conservative Senator who referred to ' lick-spittle ' liberals and journalists? I had to look that one up. She seems to be in a bit of trouble herself right now.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 28 August 2013 10:39
*************
A lick-spittle is a limp -wristed liberal. A person with no firm opinions. Ready to agree with the last person he spoke to. A jellyfish Julian,.
Wasn't it a senior Conservative Senator who referred to ' lick-spittle ' liberals and journalists? I had to look that one up. She seems to be in a bit of trouble herself right now.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 28 August 2013 10:39
*************
A lick-spittle is a limp -wristed liberal. A person with no firm opinions. Ready to agree with the last person he spoke to. A jellyfish Julian,.
Oh Dear, what can the matter be?
The information published below is welcome . Thank you.
Why did you feel your contribution needed to be accompanied by a scolding for moi?
The point of my post was not the history of Switzerland, noble though it may be. It was how phobic our age seems to have become about imaginary slurs and insults.
This week I confess to an opinion that top level staff who earn their living in public service in this community ought to live here with us.
Since none of them do ,the question is academic.
But I am immediately accused of bias . My view on the matter is compared to cars in a parking lot.
What is that about?
I write another opinion and a reader demands I write a learned journal on the subject.
It's only a topic of conversation .
Thank you for your contribution.
Lighten up for Fritz's sake.
Why did you feel your contribution needed to be accompanied by a scolding for moi?
The point of my post was not the history of Switzerland, noble though it may be. It was how phobic our age seems to have become about imaginary slurs and insults.
This week I confess to an opinion that top level staff who earn their living in public service in this community ought to live here with us.
Since none of them do ,the question is academic.
But I am immediately accused of bias . My view on the matter is compared to cars in a parking lot.
What is that about?
I write another opinion and a reader demands I write a learned journal on the subject.
It's only a topic of conversation .
Thank you for your contribution.
Lighten up for Fritz's sake.
What Do You Know!!!!
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Age of Phobia":
If you are going to categorize a country please do so in full, not merely a passing and inaccurate comment.
The Swiss Confederation dates from 1291. That makes it five times as old as Canada. The Federal Constitution dates from 1848 making it one of the oldest in the world.
One neat aspect of Swiss voting, at all three levels, the commune, the canton and the federal level, is that by calling a referendum, a group of citizens may challenge a law enacted at any of these levels. There is also the right, the federal constitutional initiative that allows citizens to put a constitutional amendment to a national vote. There are varying numbers of signatures required for the three different government levels where a referendum is desired.
This sounds like a great improvement over our system of creating legislation, where any majority government at any of our three levels can pass just about any law and only be subject to judicial review, ultimately by the Supreme Court.
Banking is not Switzerland's national industry and your concept of wealthy people stashing their money for security or tax purposes has changed, if only recently. One never had to surrender the citizenship of one's national country in order to live in Switzerland. Shania Twain has lived there for years.
The Swiss economy, including banking, consists of pharmaceuticals, watch making, engineering, high tech manufacturing, its most important economic sector. This includes specialist chemicals, health and pharmaceutical goods, scientific and precision measuring instrument and musical instruments. Major contributors are insurance, tourism and international organizations, i.e. the Red Cross and WTO.
There is also compulsory military service and after having served two years people get called back for refresher training every so often. There is usually a military rifle to be found in every household where a member has completed the compulsory service. And these are not ancient Lee-Enfield rifles like that used by our arctic adventurer Prime Minister during his recent target practice from all three positions.
So do a bit of research before you comment on a country, one of the best in the world.
And you can't beat the scenery.
Publish
Delete
Mark as spam
Moderate comments for this blog.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 28 August 2013 11:20
If you are going to categorize a country please do so in full, not merely a passing and inaccurate comment.
The Swiss Confederation dates from 1291. That makes it five times as old as Canada. The Federal Constitution dates from 1848 making it one of the oldest in the world.
One neat aspect of Swiss voting, at all three levels, the commune, the canton and the federal level, is that by calling a referendum, a group of citizens may challenge a law enacted at any of these levels. There is also the right, the federal constitutional initiative that allows citizens to put a constitutional amendment to a national vote. There are varying numbers of signatures required for the three different government levels where a referendum is desired.
This sounds like a great improvement over our system of creating legislation, where any majority government at any of our three levels can pass just about any law and only be subject to judicial review, ultimately by the Supreme Court.
Banking is not Switzerland's national industry and your concept of wealthy people stashing their money for security or tax purposes has changed, if only recently. One never had to surrender the citizenship of one's national country in order to live in Switzerland. Shania Twain has lived there for years.
The Swiss economy, including banking, consists of pharmaceuticals, watch making, engineering, high tech manufacturing, its most important economic sector. This includes specialist chemicals, health and pharmaceutical goods, scientific and precision measuring instrument and musical instruments. Major contributors are insurance, tourism and international organizations, i.e. the Red Cross and WTO.
There is also compulsory military service and after having served two years people get called back for refresher training every so often. There is usually a military rifle to be found in every household where a member has completed the compulsory service. And these are not ancient Lee-Enfield rifles like that used by our arctic adventurer Prime Minister during his recent target practice from all three positions.
So do a bit of research before you comment on a country, one of the best in the world.
And you can't beat the scenery.
Publish
Delete
Mark as spam
Moderate comments for this blog.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 28 August 2013 11:20
Erratum
Something has altered in the function of my magic box.
I reach the bottom of a page and the print slides into the shadows.
I don't know what's wrong so I have no idea where to look for a solution.
I apologize for any muddle that appeared at the end of the last post.
I hadn't finished . But I did run out of patience.
I reach the bottom of a page and the print slides into the shadows.
I don't know what's wrong so I have no idea where to look for a solution.
I apologize for any muddle that appeared at the end of the last post.
I hadn't finished . But I did run out of patience.
The Age of Phobia
Is discrimination as real as the phobia?
Oprah Winfrey read racial slur about a Swiss sales clerk's refusal to show her a purse valued at thosands of dollars from a secure place on a high shelf behind the counter.
I'm fairly certain if I were the person asking to handle the same purse, I would receive the same response.
It would have nothing to do with the colour of my skin.
It would have everything to do with the fact that I don't look like the Devil Who Wears Prada.
Switzerland is not a place like other places.
No matter the nature of the dispute ,Switzeland is always neutral in war.
The national industry is banking.
It allows people of wealth and substance to stash stuff safe from their own government in times of war.
It also provides a haven for wealthy Americans to protect them from their nations taxes.
I think they may even surrender Americn Citizenship for that advantage.
Oprah Winfrey was in Switzerland to attend the wedding of her friend Tina Turner.
********
Last week an MLA somewehere else in Canada was compelled to apologize to a colleague for making a reference to a colleague's"male friend"
The Premier required the apology on pain of being expelled from the party cauicus.
But isn't that what the battle has been about. For legal recognition of same sex rlationships.
Why do they insist on co-opting language to obscure the reality?
Gay was a word in the English language with a clear and succinct meaning.
A rainbow was a natural phenomena.
****************
Early in this term I used the term Niger Brown. I was assailed because it was similar to another word spelled differently.
A couple of weeks ago I used the term "limp-wristed liberal"
Immediattely there was an explosion from the sidelines.;
"WOW!! You'r e homophobic. I bet you wuldn't walk in a Gay Pride Parade"
I am not. Why can't the term "limp-wristed liberal" be allowed to mean what it says;
A flabby thinker. A person with no firm opinions. A weak reed that bends this way and that ,however the wind blows. A jellyfish Julian.
The commenter was right about one thing though. I would not walk in a gay pride parade. I see no merit in parading sexuality. I wouldn'ty walk in a heterosexual pride parade either.
a reference to that pesons's "male friend" The Premier of the Province required him to do so on pain of bein expelled from he party caucus.
Oprah Winfrey read racial slur about a Swiss sales clerk's refusal to show her a purse valued at thosands of dollars from a secure place on a high shelf behind the counter.
I'm fairly certain if I were the person asking to handle the same purse, I would receive the same response.
It would have nothing to do with the colour of my skin.
It would have everything to do with the fact that I don't look like the Devil Who Wears Prada.
Switzerland is not a place like other places.
No matter the nature of the dispute ,Switzeland is always neutral in war.
The national industry is banking.
It allows people of wealth and substance to stash stuff safe from their own government in times of war.
It also provides a haven for wealthy Americans to protect them from their nations taxes.
I think they may even surrender Americn Citizenship for that advantage.
Oprah Winfrey was in Switzerland to attend the wedding of her friend Tina Turner.
********
Last week an MLA somewehere else in Canada was compelled to apologize to a colleague for making a reference to a colleague's"male friend"
The Premier required the apology on pain of being expelled from the party cauicus.
But isn't that what the battle has been about. For legal recognition of same sex rlationships.
Why do they insist on co-opting language to obscure the reality?
Gay was a word in the English language with a clear and succinct meaning.
A rainbow was a natural phenomena.
****************
Early in this term I used the term Niger Brown. I was assailed because it was similar to another word spelled differently.
A couple of weeks ago I used the term "limp-wristed liberal"
Immediattely there was an explosion from the sidelines.;
"WOW!! You'r e homophobic. I bet you wuldn't walk in a Gay Pride Parade"
I am not. Why can't the term "limp-wristed liberal" be allowed to mean what it says;
A flabby thinker. A person with no firm opinions. A weak reed that bends this way and that ,however the wind blows. A jellyfish Julian.
The commenter was right about one thing though. I would not walk in a gay pride parade. I see no merit in parading sexuality. I wouldn'ty walk in a heterosexual pride parade either.
a reference to that pesons's "male friend" The Premier of the Province required him to do so on pain of bein expelled from he party caucus.
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
A Shared Irritation
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Leadership....what is that?":
But we didn't get to vote on staff. Many of the top guns are hold-overs who live out of town. To them, we are just a play-yard from which they return home at the end of a ' creative ' day
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 27 August 20
*******************
All of the top guns live out of town. I confess it's a source of irritation.
The Municipal Act requires that top level positions are filled by competition.
Statutory Officers are appointed by Bylaw. Only Council can approve a Bylaw.
The competition cannot be limited to local applicants.
However, there is nothing to stop a Council from asking the question of a potential hire.
"If we offer you the position would you be willing to re-locate to this community.?"
Additional points could accrue to an affirmative answer.
I think having so much influence, senior staff should live among the people they serve.
There should be opportunity for residents to take a measure of their judgement and commitment.
And in turn, they should learn the values of the people they serve.
And they in trn should learn something of the people they serve.
. They should be known. People should be able to make an assessment of their commitment and judgement.
But we didn't get to vote on staff. Many of the top guns are hold-overs who live out of town. To them, we are just a play-yard from which they return home at the end of a ' creative ' day
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 27 August 20
*******************
All of the top guns live out of town. I confess it's a source of irritation.
The Municipal Act requires that top level positions are filled by competition.
Statutory Officers are appointed by Bylaw. Only Council can approve a Bylaw.
The competition cannot be limited to local applicants.
However, there is nothing to stop a Council from asking the question of a potential hire.
"If we offer you the position would you be willing to re-locate to this community.?"
Additional points could accrue to an affirmative answer.
I think having so much influence, senior staff should live among the people they serve.
There should be opportunity for residents to take a measure of their judgement and commitment.
And in turn, they should learn the values of the people they serve.
And they in trn should learn something of the people they serve.
. They should be known. People should be able to make an assessment of their commitment and judgement.
Post Script
When the Region was created , authority to approve municipal debt was transferred to that body.
But we seldom need approval for debt.
The money we strong-arm from developers when they apply for building permits ( no tickee no permit) allows major projects to be built with cash .
No Holds Barred.
Every wish shall be granted.
The joint facility we are building for parks and works has a green roof . Can't get anything much more expensive than that.
It's being built to Gold Standard Energy.
It has an extra floor on it for possible use in the future. And don't forget the treatment facility for melting snow. That's another cool million.
We really don't know what all those other extras cost.
But heigh ho, what's a million ?
Why should t we not have the best.? We have all that hydro reserve money crying out to be spent.
The Water Reserve probably did have to have unanimous approval before it could be borrowed.
But we seldom need approval for debt.
The money we strong-arm from developers when they apply for building permits ( no tickee no permit) allows major projects to be built with cash .
No Holds Barred.
Every wish shall be granted.
The joint facility we are building for parks and works has a green roof . Can't get anything much more expensive than that.
It's being built to Gold Standard Energy.
It has an extra floor on it for possible use in the future. And don't forget the treatment facility for melting snow. That's another cool million.
We really don't know what all those other extras cost.
But heigh ho, what's a million ?
Why should t we not have the best.? We have all that hydro reserve money crying out to be spent.
The Water Reserve probably did have to have unanimous approval before it could be borrowed.
Back In The Days
There was another really practical reason a Council would not likely approve a major project without wholehearted support,
There were no development charges. No reserves of millions of dollars. No cash on hand to pay the piper. No nee homeowners who could be fleeced when they didn't even know it was happening.
Debentures had to be issued to realize funds.
The Ontario Municipal Board was created during the Great Depression when munocipalities were likely to fall into bankruptcy.
The function of the Board was to receive and approve or reject municipal applications for approval to issue debentures.
Like planning applications to-day , municipal decisions could be appealed .
That's what happened to the Railway Museum. One member of Council filed an appeal. The latr James Murray, who was Reeve at the time an had held the office of Mayor.
One might say it was a battle between the old and new.
The project was abandoned.
The town was seven thousand-five hundred people then. About twenty-five hundred homes.
Elections were held every twelve months.
The voters list was not so all inclusive.
There were no development charges. No reserves of millions of dollars. No cash on hand to pay the piper. No nee homeowners who could be fleeced when they didn't even know it was happening.
Debentures had to be issued to realize funds.
The Ontario Municipal Board was created during the Great Depression when munocipalities were likely to fall into bankruptcy.
The function of the Board was to receive and approve or reject municipal applications for approval to issue debentures.
Like planning applications to-day , municipal decisions could be appealed .
That's what happened to the Railway Museum. One member of Council filed an appeal. The latr James Murray, who was Reeve at the time an had held the office of Mayor.
One might say it was a battle between the old and new.
The project was abandoned.
The town was seven thousand-five hundred people then. About twenty-five hundred homes.
Elections were held every twelve months.
The voters list was not so all inclusive.
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