I keep a weblog like it's still the 90s. For commentary and dissent please visit jontaylor.ca, or various other purveyors of thought online.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Queen's buys Women's Prison

Kingston - In a move that will likely bring a weary sigh from most Queen's alumni, Kingston's venerable academic institution (founded 1841) has announced that it will be taking over the site of the former Kingston Penitentiary for Women, located across the street from Queen's West Campus.

The Crown Lands Corporation - the present owner of the prison site - has agreed to demolish three of the four walls surrounding the former prison, as well as all 'non-heritage' structures on the property. The fourth wall will remain to keep law-abiding Portsmouth residents safe from Queen's undergraduates.

The university has pledged to respect the heritage designation of the historic stone structures which make up the prison. No word yet on how it plans to put hundreds of cell-sized rooms to academic use. The prison will be turned over to the school in 2008.

Friday, April 20, 2007

Vancouver pictures

I love this city:


The Library


The Skybridge from the Surrey shore.


West End Tower View.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

On Tech Support

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Alarming News!

Remember when I used to write about global warming, then stopped? Well I did, check the archives... Today I feel vindicated because experts are starting to question whether or not the Goracle tells the truth.

First Richard S. Lindzen:

Judging from the media in recent months, the debate over global warming is now over. There has been a net warming of the earth over the last century and a half, and our greenhouse gas emissions are contributing at some level. Both of these statements are almost certainly true. What of it? Recently many people have said that the earth is facing a crisis requiring urgent action. This statement has nothing to do with science. There is no compelling evidence that the warming trend we've seen will amount to anything close to catastrophe. What most commentators—and many scientists—seem to miss is that the only thing we can say with certainly about climate is that it changes. [...]
one overlooked mystery is why temperatures are not already higher. Various models predict that a doubling of CO2 in the atmosphere will raise the world's average temperature by as little as 1.5 degrees Celsius or as much as 4.5 degrees. The important thing about doubled CO2 (or any other greenhouse gas) is its "forcing"—its contribution to warming. At present, the greenhouse forcing is already about three-quarters of what one would get from a doubling of CO2. But average temperatures rose only about 0.6 degrees since the beginning of the industrial era, and the change hasn't been uniform—warming has largely occurred during the periods from 1919 to 1940 and from 1976 to 1998, with cooling in between. Researchers have been unable to explain this discrepancy.

Yes, that Richard S. Lindzen - the Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Meteorology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Of course Laurie Goldstein from the Toronto Sun has an opinion too:
But well-fed, First World, Kyoto fanatics, awash is their naive, pastoral fantasies, don't want the Third World building coal, oil or natural gas-fired energy plants to supply electricity. They also object to nuclear power, which emits no greenhouse gases. They would deny the Third World any realistic means of modernizing itself. Instead, they insanely demonize industrialization and development, the only things that can lift poor nations out of poverty, while lecturing the world's poorest to use wind and solar power, a farce given how impractical and expensive this would be.

Meanwhile, the IPCC and its cheerleaders give us ever-more-hysterical "climate porn" updates -- theoretical predictions of the additional deaths that may occur due to man-made global warming, that ignore the real deaths happening right now because of the Third World's lack of electricity.

Here's African economist and author James Shikwati, interviewed by Channel 4 in Great Britain for its documentary, The Great Global Warming Swindle: "One clear thing that emerges from the whole environmental debate is the point that somebody came to kill the African dream, and the African dream is to develop. We are being told 'don't touch your resources. Don't touch your oil. Don't touch your coal.' That is suicide."

Monday, April 2, 2007

On Outrage

So,

My brother is a prominent blogger. He is pretty clearly conservative in his views, but that's not surprising because he started BloggingTories.ca. He is one of best read bloggers in the country because of the quality of his posts and his ability to cut though the MSM bullshit.

This is why I'm outraged. My brother was asked to leave the press scrum on parliment hill 2 weeks ago. Why? Because the MSM decided that he was not allowed to be there. Unfortunately for the MSM, they do not have this right. My brother has a parliment pass and can therefore go where he pleases on the hill.

I'm outraged because members of the press decided to muzzle someone who was out to get a story. They acted as sensorship of the new media, and in the process managed to discredit themselves further in the minds of most of his, and I hope, my, readers.

I hope that the Speaker of the House, who granted Stephen the right to be on the hill, will address this issue. Please check this developing story out at stephentaylor.ca, bloggingtories.ca, and nationalnewswatch.com; the future of honest journalism is at stake.

MC Rove

Looks like someone else is holding the puppet strings today:


Sunday, April 1, 2007

On Sleep

This being my first post here at JonTaylor.Ca, I've spent an inordinate amount of time in paralysis, trying to come up with something worthy of the gig. Sadly, great wit and memorable wisdom are not things that I spout on cue. They are things that I produce slowly, organically, and through the rigorous application of ambitious substance abuse.

Instead, I have decided to be useful. Here, then, is a executive summary on sleeping effectively.

A. We sleep in cycles. These cycles last approximately 90 minutes. We sleep lightest at the beginning of the cycle; we sleep heaviest at its end. In between two cycles there are a few minutes where we are not actually asleep; if we wake up during the middle of the night, it is usually during those instances.

B. In order to feel most refreshed upon waking, it is important to wake up in between two cycles, or at the beginning of a new cycle. Thus, it is better to sleep six hours (four complete cycles), than seven hours (waking up near the end of a sleep cycle).

C. Waking up before the end of a sleep cycle is what gives you that 'I-just-got-punched-by-a-brick' feeling that makes putting on your pants a task of herculean proportions.

d. To figure out exactly how long your sleep cycle is, keep an eye out the next few times you sleep without an alarm clock. Figure out what the common multiple is between those sleep sessions. That is the length of your sleep cycle.

e. Finally, don't waste your time trying to enlighten someone in the throes of fanaticism. This has nothing to do with sleep. It's just good advice.

[source: The Owner's Manual for the Brain, Third Ed.]

Saturday, March 31, 2007

New York to Paris: Google Maps Style

Let me suggest that you appreciate the sense of humour over at google.
maps.google.com will give you directions from New York to Paris.

I've used google maps to get lost many times before in my life. Sometimes it helps to get me unlost as well, but no. 23 is beyond funny.

I believe the consensus: April Fools!

Just joking, still March,

I'm just wondering about the number of scientists who have sullied the name of science by believing that consensus equals truth.

Einstein faced some notable political descent to his science in Germany, before he moved to the USA. During that time 200 scientists stated that by consensus they believed he was wrong. To this he said, 200 beliefs mean nothing, all they needed to do was to prove. He was, of course, right.

The scientific method is not well understood by politicians. I believe this to be because to become a politician you will most likely be a lawyer. If you are a lawyer, there's probably a good chance that you did your undergrad degree (at least in Canada) in history or politics or sociology, and therefore had little time for science.

So, a primer for those who are being primed:

When a scientist comes across a problem, he or she will state a hypothesis (an educated guess) as to what the problem is and how that problem manifests itself.

At this point the hypothesis is a theory. (this is important)

A scientist will then create an experiment. During this process she or he will create a list of constant measures that will be enforced to assure that the test can be repeated.

The hypothesis is then tested using the materials and methods listed as constant measures.

Should the data observed in the test be in support of the hypothesis, the scientist can report that his or her first test positively reinforced the hypothesis and therefore the theory.

The test must then be repeated using the same control. Should the results be repeatable then the theory can be reported as verified.

A scientific theory can only become truth in the case that all possible reasonable detractions from the theory are proven to be false (also with scientific hypothesis testing).

So, as always, I will link this with global warming.
Firstly AGW (warming caused by people) is a theory.
Secondly, consensus does not replace the scientific method.
Thirdly, the models used to simulate the effects of different GHGs on our atmosphere are not repeatable and therefore invalid.
Fourthly, those models did not take into account various levels of solar radiation change.

So, in conclusion, please remember that if a scientist relies on funding she or he will probably report that his experiment is unproven, but there is consensus that could be true.

I don't think that people without science degrees should decide on matters of science. I don't think that people without law degrees should decide on matters of law.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

On Work

Today I went to the Sunshine Coast (rather ironic name I think) and helped map a possible penstock route.

I can't believe that I get paid to do this job.



Thursday, March 15, 2007

On Seals

Just some simple personal background on myself.

I am a vegetarian and I think that people who oppose the seal hunt are sad and misguided people.

Firstly, the thought that seals are more important to you and your fascist organizations than Newfoundland and Inuit hunters is appalling; you should be ashamed. Furthermore, preferring that the seals (and hunters) starve is abhorrent.

Secondly the seals will die anyhow. If you don't believe me correct my logic. I'll be waiting in the comments for you.

These baby seals live on icebergs.
The icebergs melt as they move south from the Arctic.
These seals will be eaten by whales.
If they are not eaten by whales and not hunted, they will starve to death.
They will starve to death because there are only so many fish and the fish population on the east coast has waned.

So in conclusion, if you don't like seal skin don't buy it. I certainly won't. If this causes less demand for seal skin, there will be fewer hunters. If there are fewer hunters you will accomplish your goals of stopping the hunt without demanding that the government intervene for an issue which is about your fascist morals.

Remember, not all activism is good activism.

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Madison Wisconsin

So, here I am. In Madison that is. I just spent 12 hours driving from Milton which was interesting to say the least. I think that it's the longest I've sat silently in a really really really long time.

I found out some new things today.
According to one Church Billboard in Michigan: God loves you, no matter what!
According to Another: God hates murderers and Gays.

The new Arcade Fire CD is pretty good. I'd suggest it for fans, otherwise I don't think you'll find the Revolution(lies) track you're looking for.

The Sears tower in Chicago stick out like a sore thumb, if a thumb were actually longer than the fingers.

Monday, March 5, 2007

Cross Continent Checkup

Like all people who have run out of things to talk about, I am going on a roadtrip. I am actually moving west (BC) for my career but things can sometimes hold a double purpose.

Like my friend Kelsey says: "Sometimes even white clouds could use a silver lining"

So day one is over, and I'm not entirely sure there will be another post for a while... but whatever right.

Maybe I'll make a video or two on the way.

Today I was listening to Weezer (Pinkerton), Bob Dylan (Modern Times), Sheila Rogers on CBC and Edge 102.

I'm hoping that Detroit and Chicago radio is better than Toronto.

Also, the Arcade Fire album is out tomorrow, so I'll probably grab that for the ride too.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

On Ahmadinejad's Killer Dolphins

I had a sneaking suspicion from the way the President of Iran has been posturing recently that he has an ace up his sleeve. That ace is killer dolphins.

From the BBC:
Dolphins trained to kill for the Soviet navy have been sold to Iran - but what they will do in the Persian Gulf is a mystery.

Dolphins and other aquatic mammals were trained by Russian experts to attack warships and enemy frogmen, but when funding for the project ceased, many were moved to a private dolphinarium to perform for tourists.
Islamofascism, Nuclear Weapons, Oil, Killer Dolphins, and still
not America's biggest concern. What does Ahmadinejad have to do?

Update:

This Week's Economist

Monday, February 5, 2007

On Picassa


For a very primitive photo program Picassa is quite good.

Sunday, February 4, 2007

On sweet sweet irony.

During all of our recent bruhaha about the climate I read something interesting about Pat Robertson. From Wikipedia:
In 2006 Robertson became a global warming "convert." One source attributes this conversion to the 2006 North American heat wave. On August 3, 2006, he said on his 700 Club show:

But I tell you stay in doors ladies and gentleman. Stay cool. Get fans or whatever. And the poor, they need emergency fans and ice to cool down — the number of people dead. I have not been one who believed in the global warming. But I tell you, they are making a convert out of me as these blistering summers. They have broken heat records in a number of cities already this year and broken all-time records and it is getting hotter and the ice caps are melting and there is a build up of carbon dioxide in the air. We really need to address the burning of fossil fuels. If we are contributing to the destruction of the planet we need to do [something] about it.

This is the same Pat Robertson who believes in teaching creationism as science in schools. He has enough conviction in the sweet holy Lord (blessed be His name) to believe that Genesis, as transcribed by man (over 6000 years), is scientific fact, but not enough to appreciate the sweet holy Lord's oil as left on the earth during this period of creation (blessed be the oil).

I for one find this gaffe hilarious.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

On Wars Destined for Failure

It's pretty clear that the earth is warming. It's pretty clear that kids (and adults) are doing drugs and it's pretty clear that terror is increasing rather than decreasing.

So why do we fight the wars that are destined for failure?

The easy answer is that it wins votes for politicians who promise things that they cannot possibly deliver.

The hard answer is summed up nicely by Drew Curtis, founder of Fark.com in the first chapter of his book that's due it June.
Media Fearmongering

Media loves to extrapolate, especially regarding natural disasters. The general question of any fearmongering article is What Would Happen If Some Wildly Improbable Event Occurred? The general answer is; millions of people would die and civilization as we know it would collapse.

On the morning of the first space shuttle landing since the Columbia disaster I was sitting in the CNN studios in New York waiting to go on. I'd prepared a short three-minute rant on the space shuttle coverage, but I was bumped when the shuttle landing was delayed for twenty-four hours. CNN decided that it was probably not a good idea to have me on to deliver a humorous critique of media coverage of the space shuttle landing before they were done covering it. In retrospect that was probably a good idea, because media coverage of that first space shuttle landing in two years was embarrassing. If you ran a search on CNN.com for "space shuttle" around that time, literally every article was about the space shuttle blowing up.

Incidentally the ratings for that particular shuttle launch were the highest of any shuttle launch ever. Why? Because everyone tuned in to see if it would explode. Seriously. It was like watching NASCAR race highlights consist of just the wrecks. Incidentally, space shuttle mission coverage is still like this today.

Simply, a news agency cannot sell ad space if it bereft of stories. Until something interesting (or terrible) comes along, the media will hype weather, food and sex. This is because most idiots out there in Zombie Land have the mental capacity to talk about weather, food or sex.

I propose that create a ultimate food/sex scandal so that the plebs have something to talk other than the weather (NOT CLIMATE).

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

On Political Supporters

Occasionally I'll find something so fundamentally stupid that I must post it. And here it is:

Notable Reptilians:
George Bush Sr.,
George Bush Jr.,
Richard Cheney,
Al Gore,
Colin Powell,
Queen Elizabeth and all 4 sons including Prince Charles and Prince Andrew


President Bush's Cabinet:
Cabinet Positions & Cabinet Officials
Attorney General John Ashcroft -- High order Reptilian
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld -- High Order Reptilian
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson-High Order Reptilian
Interior Secretary Gale Norton -- Alien controlled
Secretary of State Colin Powell --Reptilian of the Highest Order
Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill -- Reptilian

President Bush's Advisors:
White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card
Director of the Office of Management and Budget Mitch Daniels -- Alien controlled
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice --Alien --other type

Senators of the 107th Congress
Akaka, Daniel (D - HI) Reptilian
Allen, George (R - VA) Reptilian
Bayh, Evan (D - IN) -- Alien/other type
Biden Jr, Joseph (D - DE) -- Reptilian
Bond, Christopher (R - MO) -- Reptilian
Boxer, Barbara (D - CA) -- Alien supported
Bunning, Jim (R - KY) -- Alien supported
Byrd, Robert (D - WV) -- Reptilian
Campbell, Ben Nighthorse (R - CO) Pleiadean (fallen to the other side)
Carper, Thomas (D - DE) -- Alien supported
Clinton, Hillary (D - NY) --Alien/other type
Conrad, Kent (D - ND) --Alien/other type
Crapo, Mike (R - ID) --- Alien supported
Daschle, Thomas (D - SD) --Reptilian
Dodd, Christopher (D - CT) -- Alien supported
Domenici, Pete (R - NM) --Reptilian
Dorgan, Byron (D - ND) -- Reptilian
Durbin, Richard (D - IL) --Alien supported
Feingold, Russell (D - WI) -- Alien/other type
Graham, Bob (D - FL) -- Reptilian
Gramm, Phil (R - TX) -- Reptilian of high office
Harkin, Tom (D - IA) -- Alien of high office
Hollings, Ernest (D - SC) -- Alien /other type
Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R - TX) -- Alien supported
Inouye, Daniel (D - HI) --Reptilian
Kennedy, Edward (D - MA) --Very high reptilian
Leahy, Patrick (D - VT) -- Reptilian
Lieberman, Joseph (D - CT) --Very high alien/other type
McCain, John (R - AZ) -- Alien hybrid
Nickles, Don (R - OK) --- Alien/other type
Reid, Harry (D - NV) -- Alien supported
Rockefeller IV, John (D - WV) --Reptilian of very high office/leadership
Santorum, Rick (R - PA) Alien/other type
Sarbanes, Paul (D - MD) Very high (nasty) alien type
Specter, Arlen (R - PA) __Very high reptilian
Thurmond, Strom (R - SC) Alien/other type
Warner, John (R - VA) Reptilian/Warrior Leader

House of Representatives:
Aderholt, Robert; Alabama, 4th (Reptilian and group leader of other aliens)
Armey, Richard; Texas, 26th (Alien/other breed)
Baird, Brian; Washington, 3rd (Alien/other type)
Baldwin, Tammy; Wisconsin, 2nd (Reptilian)
Barrett, Thomas; Wisconsin, 5th (Alien/other type)
Becerra, Xavier; California, 30th (Reptilian)
Bilirakis, Michael; Florida, 9th (Reptilian of High Office)
Blunt, Roy; Missouri, 7th Reptilian of High Office)
Bonior, David; Michigan, 10th (Very high Reptilian--Leader of sub-group)
Boucher, Rick; Virginia, 9th (Reptilian--high office)
Brown, Henry; South Carolina, 1st (Reptilian – very high order)
Callahan, Sonny; Alabama, 1st (Reptilian --other type)
Capito, Shelley; West Virginia, 2nd (Alien --other type)
Carson, Brad; Oklahoma, 2nd (Reptilian --very high officer)
Clayton, Eva; North Carolina,1st (Reptilian --very high order)
Condit, Gary; California, 18th (Levy died because she found out his secret--he's Reptilian --not such a high order (obviously))
Crenshaw, Ander; Florida, 4th (Reptilian --very high order)
Culberson, John; Texas, 7th (Extremely high order reptilian)
Davis, Susan; California, 49th (Reptilian)
DeFazio, Peter; Oregon, 4th (Reptilian--very high order)
DeLay, Tom; Texas, 22nd (A leader of the Reptilians here on planet Earth)
Doggett, Lloyd; Texas, 10th (Reptilian --very high order)
English, Phil; Pennsylvania, 21st (Reptilian commander)
Flake, Jeff; Arizona, 1st (Reptilian, leader of lesser order)
Fossella, Vito; New York, 13th (Alien --other type)
Gilchrest, Wayne; Maryland, 1st (Reptilian --very high order)
Goss, Porter; Florida, 14th (Reptilian/alien hybrid)
Green, Mark; Wisconsin, 8th (Alien --other type)
Gutierrez, Luis; Illinois, 4th (Reptilian --very high order)
Hansen, James; Utah, 1st (Reptilian leader)
Hefley, Joel; Colorado, 5th (Reptilian leader)
Hobson, David; Ohio, 7th (Alien--other type)
Houghton, Amo; New York, 31st (Reptilian --very high order)
Hyde, Henry; Illinois, 6th (Reptilian of the Supreme Command (er))
Jackson-Lee, Sheila; Texas, 18th (Reptilian --other type)
Jones, Walter; North Carolina, 3rd (Reptilian --High Command)
Kennedy, Patrick; Rhode Island, 1st (Alien influenced)
Kind, Ron; Wisconsin, 3rd (Reptilian --supreme command)
Langevin, James; Rhode Island, 2nd (Reptilian --First Order)
Lewis, John; Georgia, 5th (Reptilian)
Luther, Bill; Minnesota, 6th (Reptilian --Very High Order)
Markey, Edward; Massachusetts, 7th (Reptilian --Very High Order)
McHugh, John; New York, 24th (Reptilian --extremely High Order)
McNulty, Michael; New York, 21st (Reptilian --Very High Order)
Miller, George; California, 7th (Reptilian --Extremely High Order)
Nethercutt, George; Washington, 5th (Reptilian --Supreme Command)
Owens, Major; New York, 11th (Reptilian --Extremely High Order)
Pence, Mike; Indiana, 2nd (Reptilianj --Very High Order)
Platts, Todd; Pennsylvania, 19th (Reptilian --VEry High Order)
Rahall, Nick; West Virginia, 3rd (Reptilian)
Rangel, Charles; New York, 15th (Reptilian --Very High Order)
Rodriguez, Ciro; Texas, 28th (Reptilian)
Ryan, Paul; Wisconsin, 1st (Reptilian)
Serrano, Jose; New York, 16th (Reptilian --High Order)
Shimkus, John; Illinois, 20th (Alien --other type)
Slaughter, Louise; New York, 28th (Reptilian)
Stearns, Cliff; Florida, 6th (Reptilian --Very High Order)
Strickland, Ted; Ohio, 6th (Reptilian --Very High Order)
Thomas, William; California, 21st (Reptilian --High Order)
Walsh, James; New York, 25th (Reptilian --Very High Order)
Weller, Jerry; Illinois, 11th (Alien --other type)
Wilson, Heather; New Mexico, 1st (Reptilian)

On Mathematics:

Some interesting facts on mathematics: (from wikipedia)

0.9999999999999999999999999999999999999... = 1

Although you may contest this it is because you have a finite view of decimals rather than an infinite (correct) view.



-0 is a honest to goodness number

and,
The average Bacon Number from IMDB is 2.968 (ie. K Bacon is 0 degrees)
Thank goodness for the Oracle of Bacon and the University of Virginia.

Friday, January 26, 2007

On Patrick Moore

Patrick Moore is a hero. He created Greenpeace and then left when took up extremism. Go here to listen to his interview with Penn Jillette in Las Vegas.

The breakdown:
He regrets:
Being anti-nuclear energy when he should have been only anti nuclear testing.

Watermelons:
Green on the outside but pink through and through. Essentially his problem with Greenpeace is that they became a front for anticapitalists. Communists who lost the first war.

What happens when you're a radical who was correct:
By the time the Nuclear test bans were signed in the late 70s, most people agreed with Greenpeace. This made the movement slide to communism and Hollywood populism.

On Flea Markets

I just don't know what to say. I believe that maybe I'll check out the flea market because it's "just like a mini-mall."

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

On Convictions

Stephane Dion accused the Conservatives of lacking conviction today. Conviction, of course, is an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence. So when Stephane Dion accuses the Conservatives of lacking the convictions that he and his party have, I'm not so concern.

Belief without the need for proof is irrational. Like the Christian God, Aliens or the 9/11 Conspiracy, convictions require no fact only belief. I'm not saying any of these beliefs are right or wrong, just that they require no proof. Maybe you can see what I'm getting at:

Is it good that the Liberal Party has irrational intentions based on unshakable beliefs that are outside the realm of truth or fact?


An irrational intention of the Liberal Party is the Kyoto Accord. Put simply, the amount of Carbon Dioxide will not decrease, it will only be transfered. Kyoto would be for the environment what globalization was for the low wage economy. Globalization moved low wage factories from North America and Europe to Asia where it was cheaper to manufacture. Heavily polluting industries will move to wherever it is cheapest to pollute. By supporting the Kyoto accord you are supporting the environmental destruction of the developing world.

It's ironic that when we want to send jobs and money to the developing world trough free trade there are protests, and when we don't want to send our polluting heavy manufacture industry there are protests. Irrational I tell you.

Another group known for irrational beliefs are 8-year-olds, they also believe (like the Liberals) in Santa Clause and the Tooth Ferry.... getting something for nothing just because they are, not because they do.

PS Who is writing Dion's speeches? They deserve a congratulatory Letter from PMSH.
//I invite you to post your favourite Liberal convictions in the comments

Monday, January 22, 2007

On Soothsaying and the “News”:

It appears as though traditional news outlets are starting to follow the trend of blogging. By that I mean making up future news and bragging about it if it comes to fruition. Whether it was CBC and CTV pontificating that the Clean Air Plan was a failure before it was released, or the Globe and Post making cabinet predictions, or the BBC and the Stern Report, or the Toronto Star and poverty the mainstream media has lost sight of their purpose, to report the news.

News is information about recent events and happenings. News can be the presentation of information about recent events and happenings. It should be an embarrassment for legitimate news sources to print false news. It should be relegated to the opinion section or possibly the Trends section. Telling the story before it happens is called soothsaying.

I’ve decided to report on some “News” that hasn’t happened yet. This way if I’m right I can tell everyone that I was ahead of the game, if I am wrong I know that no one will be searching the archives of my site.

Here comes some “News”, and remember you heard it here first:
The Conservatives will win a Majority Government in a May election.
The Conservatives will win a Majority Government in a June election.
The Conservatives will win a Majority Government in a July election.
The Conservatives will win a Majority Government in 2007.
The Conservatives will win a Majority Government in 2008.
The Liberals will win a Majority Government in a May election.
The Liberals will win a Majority Government in a June election.
The Liberals will win a Majority Government in a July election.
The Liberals will win a Majority Government in 2007.
The Liberals will win a Majority Government in 2008.
The Conservatives will win a Minority Government in a May election.
The Conservatives will win a Minority Government in a June election.
The Conservatives will win a Minority Government in a July election.
The Conservatives will win a Minority Government in 2007.
The Conservatives will win a Minority Government in 2008.
The Liberals will win a Minority Government in a May election.
The Liberals will win a Minority Government in a June election.
The Liberals will win a Minority Government in a July election.
The Liberals will win a Minority Government in 2007.
The Liberals will win a Minority Government in 2008.

The NDP will win…. hahaha, even I wouldn’t tarnish my credibility like that.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

On Paul Martin: "I regret knowing him as a person."

So, a former Liberal MP from Brampton has some choice words about Paul Martin.

CTV.ca is there:
At the time, a Martin spokeswoman said that Assadourian and Leung would not be paid for their advisory roles as long as they remained MPs. Whether they'd be paid after the election was to be "decided at that time."

Assadourian said that after the election, Martin's office wouldn't even return his phone calls, although he ostensibly remained a special adviser.

"For 15 months I was lied to," he said.

Asked if he regrets accepting Martin's job offer and giving up his seat, Assadourian said: "I regret knowing him as a person."

Martin eventually appointed Assadourian to the Immigration and Refugee Board.

Leung said she was never paid either but did provide verbal advice on "a free, informal basis." She accompanied Martin on a trade mission to China but paid her own travel and other expenses.

"Mine was sort of an honourary appointment. It was not a paid job," she said in an interview.

Assadourian said he didn't initially complain that his job turned out to be a sham because he hoped Martin would eventually honour his end of the bargain. He said he chose to speak out now in order to defend "my name and my integrity."

Friday, January 19, 2007

The Killer Whales are Invading!!!!!

Crack Reporting by Bob Weber, great headline by the Globe and Mail.

Killer whales invading Arctic

Canadian Press

New research suggests melting Arctic sea ice is drawing more killer whales into northern oceans, raising concerns among Inuit hunters about increasing competition for food.

Federal researcher Jeff Higdon has compiled a database of the number of times the sleek black-and-white predators have been spotted in the waters north of Newfoundland since the 1980s.

"There's been a massive increase," he said yesterday.

Two decades ago, hunters, scientists and other northern travellers usually reported about six killer whales a year in the waters of western Hudson Bay, he said. By 2000, the number of sightings in that one area had ballooned to more than 30 annually.


Dispatches from Tuktoyaktuk, North West Territories, Canada:

A Swift Advance:

At dawn on Friday, January 19, 2007, (a day that will live forever in infamy) the Orca war machine rolled into the quiet peaceful Baffin Sea, Beaufort Sea, and Hudson’s Bay. Unconfirmed reports by local Inuit peoples indicate complete control has been ceded to the Whales.

Tactics of the Pod:

The strategy for war was simple, swim really fast and bite what goes in the mouth. It seems to have worked as the Orca have already taken the coastal areas of the world.

International Observers and experts on Borealis-Orcinus relations unanimously agree that the Orca war machine is will soon overwhelm the arctic, and by 2050 land.

The attack was accomplished – A sweeping drive through the Berring Strait -

by months of careful planning and preparations, unity of command attributed to advanced bio-sonar technology, and the broad military vision of Fin.

Fin of the Georgia Strait:

Fin was born on the Fourth of June, 2001, but don’t let his age fool you. As his name suggests he resides somewhere in the Georgia Strait, and it is from there that he makes his plans for world conquest.

Fin has close relations with labour. His close and open relationship with Union Kingpin Trevor Linden raised some eyebrow during the recent NHL Lockout, as he is an employee of the Vancouver Canucks.

Most Orca do not have the ability to walk or live on land. Somehow Fin acquired these skills and is using them to prepare for the final battle, Whales Vs. Humans. Although friendly to human adults, Fin seems to dislike the human child. In the picture below it appears as if he’s shaking (to death?) a small child.

More on whales later…

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Insert Obligatory Cheney Joke Here

Via Email:

A prominent Ukrainian parliamentarian and close ally of the Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovych, has died of gunshot wounds suffered in a hunting incident.
Evhen Kushnaryov, a former governor of the eastern Kharkiv region, was shot while hunting with a group of friends. Reports say the shooting happened after the party spotted a wolf near their convoy, and got out to shoot at it. Ukrainian officials said Mr Yanukovych was expected to cut short a visit to Turkey after hearing of the incident. The prime minister learnt of Mr Kushnaryov's death during a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart, taking some minutes to compose himself. Mr Kushnaryov, in his mid-50s, was the deputy leader in parliament of Mr Yanukovych's Party of Regions, the largest parliamentary party. Police have not said who fired the fatal shot.
There has been no suggestion of any foul play


Yahoo?

Via Itar-Tass:
KIEV, January 17 (Itar-Tass) - Ukrainian lawmaker Yevgeny Kushnaryov, wounded in a hunting incident on Tuesday, has died, his colleague from the Party of Regions Anna German told reporters.

The fatal incident occurred when Kusharyov, one of the leaders of Party of Regions, was hunting wild boar with his friends in the Izyum district on Tuesday.

When the hunters were in a car they saw a wolf, and hastened to get out to shoot at it. A stray bullet hit Kusharyov. Under another version, he was wounded because of careless handling of firearm.

The lawmaker was rushed to a hospital of the town of Izyum, and underwent surgery, in which doctors amputated part of his intestines and a kidney.

Kushnaryov, one of the chief ideologists of the Party of Regions, was born in Kharkov on January 29, 1951.

His parents came to Ukraine from Russia. In 1973, he graduated from the Kharkov engineering and construction institute.

He was elected head of the Kharkov City Council at the first democratic election in 1990, and won the mayoral election in the city four years later.

In 1990, he gained a seat in the 1st Verkhovnaya Rada /parliament/, and took an active part in drawing the Constitution.

He was President Leonid Kuchma's chief of staff from December 1996 until November 1998.

Kuchnaryov returned to Kharkov in October 2000 as regional governor and was in office until December 2004.

After the "orange revolution," new authorities began political persecution of Kuchnaryov, accusing him of misuse of funds meant for building a subway in Kharkov, and separatism /in arranging a congress in Severodonetsk in 2004, which announced secession of Donbass and the Crime from Ukraine/.

He was detained by the Prosecutor General’s Office on August 17, 2005, but released on bail several days later.

In February 2006, the criminal case against him was closed because of "a lack of corpus delicti" in his actions.

In March 2006, Kushnaryov was elected to parliament on the party list of the Party of Regions led by Viktor Yanukovich.


Kate VS the CP

Kate (from SDA) is great:

Thank you for your e-mail to The Canadian Press regarding Tim Cook's coverage of Liberal Leader Stephane Dion's visit to Western Canada.

You're right. Tim Cook did not realize that Lonny McKague was the Liberal candidate in the federal riding of Souris/Moose Mountain last year. As you know, he did ask if McKague was a Liberal supporter, so CP was comfortable quoting him in that context. But more to your point: Had we known he had been a candidate, we would either have included that information in the story or perhaps chosen not to use his quotes at all. CP treasures its role as an objective news service. Feedback from readers like you helps us do our job better.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.

All the best and, again, thanks for your interest.

Heather Boyd
Bureau Chief, Prairies Region
The Canadian Press
Canada's No. 1 Source for News

////////////////////////////

Dear Ms. McMillan,

Thank you for your e-mail regarding Michelle MacAfee's story earlier this week on Stephane Dion and the Wheat Board. You're right - Ms. MacAfee didn't realize that Daryl Knight had been a Liberal campaign manager in the last election. She did ask Mr. Knight if he was a Liberal supporter and he told her only that he had voted Liberal in the last "couple of elections." So she was aware of his political leanings and therefore CP was comfortable quoting him in that context. But more to your point: if we had known he was a campaign manager, we would have either included that information in the story or perhaps we might have chosen not to use his quotes at all. Ms. MacAfee attempted to reach Mr. Knight today to ask him why he didn't elaborate on his connections to the party, but she couldn't reach him. CP believes very strongly in its role as an objective news service. Feedback from readers like you helps us do our job better.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.

All the best over the holidays and again, thanks for your interest,

Lorraine Turchansky
Prairies News Editor
Canadian Press and Broadcast News

I get the feeling we haven't seen the end of "Independent Farmers" from the CP.

ALARMING HEADLINE!!!

From CNN:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned Congress on Thursday that failure to take action soon to deal with the budgetary strains posed by an aging U.S. population could lead to serious economic harm.

"Unfortunately, economic growth alone is unlikely to solve the nation's impending fiscal problems," Bernanke told the Senate Budget Committee.


We've enjoyed living affluently for a while, but if what Bernake says is true it we will be headed for a pretty severe downturn... especially in Canada if Rogriguez' Private Member's Bill Passes

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

End of Days

Snake Mountain, Thailand.
Manipulated by Blogger

Andrew Coyne-> I love you

AC on the politics of the environment:

But it is precisely because these are such big, complicated, important issues that they rarely prove decisive. Their significance being obvious to anyone from a mile off, the parties are careful not to stray too far from one another, but rather hug as close as they can to the centre. And because these issues are so intractable -- that’s what makes them issues: otherwise they’d have been solved by now -- the public is skeptical that any party has the answer. No one wins elections on health care, and I doubt the environment is any different.

That’s not to say the Tories could not lose an election over it: if a party is, or seems to be, completely out to lunch on the issue, it can simply disqualify itself from consideration. But the Tories will have correctly calculated that much of the public’s concern for the environment is essentially fraudulent. While there are true believers on both sides, the broad mass of the public wants Something Done about global warming, but wants Someone Else to pay for it. All that is required to satisfy these voters is to put on a reasonably convincing show of action, to flatter their consciences without disturbing their pocketbooks. As with gifts and remedial math tests, it’s the thought that counts.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Breaking the Speed Barrier


This is the only photo on my blog that I didn't take. I did edit it though. It was a picture of a F-15 Hornet breaking the speed barrier.

Erik's Waterfall II


Same picture as before, just in sepia.

My Cottage

Friday, January 12, 2007

Shadenfreuden - Shameful Joy

Although I'm happy that the Liberal Party wheels are falling off, I'm alarmed at the number of conservatives rejoicing these defections.

Just because they are no longer Liberals doesn't mean it's good that they are Conservatives.

Mark Persaud for example embraces the socially conservative religiously based side of the Conservative Party, that PM Stephen Harper has apparently embraced. The only problem is that I've been trying to recruit people by telling them (with the last 9 months events as proof) that the Conservative Party is not planning on governing in the direction of AntiSSM, AntiChoice, and government intervention into spiritual and personal choices.

The tide of the party could be changing and for the worse. We are losing small government conservatives and replacing them with social conservatives (aka fodder for the mainstream media firing squad). The Conservatives had very adequate reason for ejecting Garth Turner from caucus. He just represented a loss to the side of the party that I was hoping (and we all know) would get the Conservatives a majority government.


Also posted on the comments for Tous Ensemble @ StephenTaylor

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Monkey in the Backyard


In Thailand there was a group of monkeys in my backyard.

Cisco, Apple, Cult of the Environment and Ramen Noodles

Ever wonder why Steve Jobs of Apple would make such a foolish mistake of calling the new Apple Cell the iPhone?

History:
Cisco owns the name iPhone. It released an iPhone in late December 2006. Apple wants to release it's phone under the name iPhone.

The twist:
Karen Kitterman - hot shot lawyer - represents, you guessed it: Both Cisco and Apple.
Check it out. Bottom of the page.

In green commentary: The Green Lobby Must Be Treated as a Religion

And in sad news: The inventor of Ramen Noodles is dead.

Check back as I will be posting more soon.