A 1959 Car vs. A New 2009 Vehicle in a Collision:

This is a pretty cool video to watch.

You know how we always think about what big tanks the old cars of the 50’s and 60’s were. And how we -- or at least our parents -  go on about how there is so much plastic on the new cars that if one of the old tanks ever collided with a new car, the new car would be demolished?….

Well -- not so much…

Someone in the insurance industry put that theory to the test and after watching this video you may change your mind.

Though the poor, poor Bel Air -- whatta waste…

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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1. The budget was pretty much as I expected. Governments like to fight their fiscal problems on the backs of the bureaucracy.  Martin did it and Flaherty has followed. CBA increases will be respected for this year,but after that; nada for two years. Pensions weren’t touched for now but expect something to come up in the coming months, if the Reformatories are still hanging on.

But it’s not only salaries that are taking a hit. Those planned salary increases (1.5% in June) that are normally funded by the central agencies are instead going to be covered by the Departments themselves; the ones who have had their own operating budgets frozen. What this means, of course, is that Departments will need to cut programs to meet the increased salary obligations. Some of the increases will be handled by not replacing some of the tens of thousands of workers who will retire over the next few years. But there will have to be some program and services cuts.

Get ready to be inconvenienced, Canada! The average Canuck will be impacted by some of these cuts!

But the Harperites don’t really care. They wanted a pre-election budget that portrays them as deficit-fighting, business-friendly, soccer moms. And who gives a shit about the Public Service, so screw ‘em!

Oh, and yeah, so much for the environment…

2. Speaking of the environment, this can’t be good.

3. Check out the Squid’s latest posting on the need for electoral reform. He explains the issue very well and, if we are ever fortunate to be able to vote on such reform, then this post should be required reading.

4. The weather, at least in my part of the country, has been awesome!!! So for all of my winter-loving friends, all I can say is: Na-Na-Na-Naaaaa-Na!!!!

5. The Oscars are this weekend. Big whoop. Though Steve Martin as the co-host might provide a laugh or two. And according to the Huffington Post,  Sarah Palin was quite greedy at the annual  gift orgy.

…Palin was supposed to donate $1,700 along with all of her gift items to the Red Cross, which is currently helping with relief efforts in Haiti and Chile.

But E! Online insists, “we can assure you she did not give up any of her swag.” They quote an unnamed vendor who claims that upwards of 20 people from the Palin camp swarmed the event. “They were like locusts,” he told the entertainment news outlet.

6. A good friend got engaged last weekend. Congratulations, A!

7.  A US first grade teacher explained to her class that she is an American. She asked her students to raise their hands if they are American too.
Not really knowing why but wanting to be like their teacher, their hands went up.There is, however, one exception. A girl named Kristen has not gone along with the class.
The teacher asked her why she has decided to be different. “Because I am not an American.”
“Then”, asks the teacher, “What are you?”.
“I’m a proud Canadian,” boasted the little girl.
The teacher asked Kristen why she is a Canadian.
“Well, my mom and dad are Canadians, so I’m a Canadian too.
“The teacher replied,” Well, you could have been born in the US !” she said loudly. Not using good logic the teacher said  “What if your mom was not a good hockey player, and your dad was not a good  hockey player? Would that mean that you are not a good hockey player too?”
A pause, and a smile.  Kristen replied, “Nope! That’d mean I’m an American!”

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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Budget next Thursday. I wonder if anyone on the Opposition side will munch on a Jos Louis while Flaherty delivers it?

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I hate this time of the year. It’s not really winter nor spring. More like sprinter. Of course the city is trying to save few bucks on snowplowing and sidewalk snow removal, so the warm temps combined with the wet snow has made for quicksand like conditions… nice bit of cardio getting to the bus though.

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Again, Max Bernier. Gotta love him. But what has amazed me the most is this statement by Jim Prentice:

While Bernier was applauded in the right-wing blogosphere, Prentice was left to distance himself, and the prime minister, from what they know are politically explosive claims. Said Prentice: “The views Maxime has put forward are his personal views. They are not the government’s views. I don’t specifically share them.”

Huh!? But, but, Mr. Prentice. He is in your caucus. He was a member of Cabinet. And the PMO has a stranglehold on the message, doesn’t it? Please. Of course they are the government’s views. Those types of views that Harper et al have done a very good job disguising. And now you have a loose cannon… what are ya gonna do about it, eh?

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The OC Transpo debate going on in XUPs hood makes for great reading. A bus driver plopped himself into the discussion this week, defending against many of the accusations that have been levelled against  OC Transpo in the blog and elsewhere).  This is akin to dropping Alex Ovechkin into a den of Canadian hockey players; he never had a chance. Some of his or her points have some validity, such as the need for public pressure to bring about change to our inefficient transit system. But the bottom line is that by and large, service sucks and many riders are tired of paying rate increase after rate increase for a crappy product.

Yet once in a blue moon, something shines through that fog of driver rudeness and route inefficiency.

I was taking the 86 yesterday when, on Russell Road, one of the passengers forgot to ring the bell in time and the bus cruised by his stop. This younger guy wasn’t familiar with the route and went to the front to ask the driver to let him off at the next stop, about 400 metres further. To which the driver said that the passenger should just stay on the bus as the 86 looped back just a little ways further. Now, it was a crappy sprinter day – cold and very wet – the passenger would have been soaked to the bone in those 400 metres. The driver could have simply stopped at the next stop and let the passenger walk a considerably longer distance without saying a word; but instead he thought of the passenger as something more than a nuisance.

Nice. And yeah, I did let OC Transpo know about it. And I also noted that this was a guy, not a cute co-ed.

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The Canadian women kicked some Yankee ass last night and won the hockey gold! Congrats ladies! It is indeed the fairer sex that is carrying the weight for our Olympic team. Now, you buncha professional, overpaid louts of men… I hope you learned something… now go out and kick some Slovakian ass tonight and some of the American/Finnish variety on Sunday!

UPDATE ON THIS FINAL POINT:

I don’t believe it. The Canuck girls decided to go out on the ice after everyone had left and have a little celebration.. with some beer, champagne and cigars. And someone took a photo of this. And one of the girls is 18 and a WHOLE MONTH away from legally drinking in B.C.!

BIG FREAKING DEAL!

Can ANY parent out there tell me that they are offended by this? They just on a gold medal for frick sake! So what if the kid was just shy of 19! It’s this blind and strict adherence to “rules” like these that make me wonder how the human race has survived this long! What are we? A world of hall monitors?

And the IOC is going to investigate… sigh…

Steve Keogh, a spokesman for the COC, said the organization had not provided the alcohol or initiated the party.

“In terms of the actual celebration, it’s not exactly something uncommon in Canada,” he said. “If these athletes were of legal age, then it’s not something that’s against the law. We can understand there’s a lot of sensitivity around celebrations.

Don’t worry girls, 99.999% of the country was out on the ice with you in spirit!

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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Yah, I know that this Tim Horton’s ad that has been airing recently has caused many a teary eye to be exposed, but really… what is that poor woman thinking…

She comes from a place where ice is found in drinks and snow is something they see only on TV when reception isn’t so great. And the hubby hands her a coffee and says “welcome to Canada” then leads the family out into a typical November day -- snow, cold, wind and misery -- and says:

Welcome home!

Sheee-it! If I was that chick, I’d be all “WTF were you thinking! We had a choice between Australia and HERE. And you chose HERE???? You’re one f***in’ sadistic SOB and I’m not looking at you or talking to you until you get me outta this hell hole!”

Or something like that.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Land of the Ice and Snow… but man, if I was from a tropic clime…

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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• Re: NDP Leader Jack Layton and Prime Minister Stephen Harper found some common ground in a meeting Thursday during a pre-budget discussion: creating jobs must be a key feature of the next budget.

I wonder if public sector job creation is part of this. Doubtful.

• Why, upon boarding a bus, do many people fumble around in the pockets, bags or purses for cash fare, tickets or their pass – thereby delaying everyone else on the bus? Did they think that they wouldn’t need to pay or show their pass? Can’t they plan well enough in advance and have their fare ready to plop into the box? Are they surprised to suddenly be on a bus?
• Staying with the transit theme… OC Transpo riders have maybe noticed the green, red and while pamphlets declaring that Transit security is everyone’s business!

Trust your eyes! While waiting at your bus stop or riding the bus, be alert. Watch for unusual situations, behaviour or packages, and report anything suspicious!

If you see something, say something!

Have I missed something? Have there been some terrorist incidents on the City’s buses? Should I tackle the next guy I see carrying a red briefcase. Yeah, I know some of you are all for increased vigilance… but doesn’t this strike you as a bit paranoid?

• Glad Gordon Lightfoot is not dead. Funny how that rumour spread like wildfire over Twitter before being picked up by the mainstream media.  Reports indicate that Mr. Lightfoot was quite happy about this as his tunes saw a level of airplay that they hadn’t seen in years. CHEZ 106 reported this morning that they had received an email from Anne Murray saying that she had indeed passed away as well.
• Coyotes (silent “e”) or coyoteees – which is it?
• The pointed hatted folks in Vatican City have declared that brother André from Montréal will become a saint. Well, good for him, darn it! But I gotta say that he looks a little fragile. I mean, even as the placekicker, I think he’ll have some problems. One hit and this dude is in a mess of pain! Has anyone told Drew Brees?

• Last, but certainly not least, I’d like to wish my eldest subunit a happy 17th birthday this Sunday! Love ya honey!

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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While I am not some galloping, flag-waving nationalist -- I’m the old fashioned type of nationalist -- I woulda thought that SOMEBODY would have pointed out that today is:

National Flag of Canada Day

Happy Birthday ya old red and white dude!

And while I’m getting all teary-eyed patriotic and stuff, check out the video that NBC did as an intro to the Vancouver Olympics as a tribute to Canuckland:

(But the Yanks are quite welcome to Celine Dion, thank-you very much)

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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Today is Employee Appreciation Day in my neck of the woods.

Yeah, I know most non public servants believe that the PS is a rat’s nest full of lazy and overpaid bumpkins, whatever.
Or as XUP put it in a recent post when talking about our pensions:

Our pay increases over the last decade or so have been below cost of living increases and our next contract will probably just maintain the status quo. We’ve had staffing freezes and freezes on all expenditures. This means we’re working on ancient equipment and sitting on broken down furniture in underheated or overheated buildings. What people don’t understand about government employees is that we’ve traded a lot for some sort of job and pension security. Entry level jobs probably pay better than the private sector, but after that we are equal to or less than what could be earned privately. You can work your ass off in the government and you will never get promoted based on merit, you will never get bonuses or incentives, you will never be rich. There will be no gold watch when you retire, no Christmas bonuses, no gifts, no perks. And our day-to-day job gives little personal satisfaction. We are tiny cogs in a big, impersonal machine. Our work will rarely be recognized. We will never be movers or shakers.And we can be working hard on something for months only to have the whole thing cancelled all of a sudden with no explanation. Have you ever had to deal with a government department for anything? Were you frustrated? Whatever frustration you felt, multiply that by at least 10 and that’s what it’s like on the inside. But we stay because security is more important than all that stuff and that’s seriously the ONLY reason most of us are still here. And everybody hates us, mocks us and thinks we have such a cushy gig.

But let me tell you about the folks that I’m in charge of.

This bunch is a collection of hard-working, intelligent and motivated Canadians. They’re folks who take what they do seriously, professionally and do it well. I am proud to work with them and mostly everyone else with whom I have had the pleasure to do so in my 12 1/2 years of serving the Canadian public.

They are my family beyond my family and when I do eventually retire (or am booted out!), I will have many, many years of great memories to take with me.

Are there those in the PS at large who fit that negative image that is so popular? Of course there are! But any very large organization will have staff of this ilk and we are no different. It’s just that the PS is such an easy target and one can easily overlook those lazy slobs that are certain to exist in companies like Xerox, Microsoft, Ford and the TD bank.

Except for the guy 4th from the right (who is an Honorary Member of our group), this is my team on the Canal at lunchtime earlier this week. Missing are three folks – one had another engagement, one of whom was on course and the other was ill.

Thanks guys!

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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Yup, it is six years to the day that I finally gave up tobacco for good.  I, like many smokers, had tried to quit several times before but had succumbed. But this time, with a ten year old and a newborn part of my life, I decided that this time, my addiction was NOT going to win!

And I pat myself on the back for succeeding. Yay me!

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Random stuff that popped into my mind this week:

1) Why are there only about half the number of OC Transpo buses on a Friday morning than any other day of the week. It couldn’t be that drivers are calling in sick and the Corp. simply isn’t bothering to replace them? Naw… that can’t be it.

2) The days are getting noticeably longer – and that makes Trashy very, very happy.

3) Don’t you hate it when little kids get sick and they look at you with that “why aren’t you fixing this, Daddy?” look? Cuts ya to the soul, it does.

4) Earbud etiquette: when is it rude to stay plugged in? At a store? Out for a walk? Are there some social situations where you should absolutely fer sure unplug yourself? What about when you’re at the counter buying something from the corner store. The clerk doesn’t give a crap about you so why should you give a crap about him?

5) Concussion update: feeling much better. The headaches have subsided to a dull throb. And even though some (Dave) will think that I will be a total wussy by doing so, I’m buying a helmet.

6) I’m writing this while sitting on the 148 on the way to work. The Wordpress app on my iPhone is pretty effective and I’m getting the hang of the keyboard. I expect more and more of my posts will be courtesy of George (my iPhone’s name).

7) One last thing – I’m still chuckling about the onion ring madness that has gripped the nation for the past few days (56,566 fans and rising!).  Seriously, if you want a good laugh, scroll few some of the hundreds (or thousands) of wall posts on the site. You’ll see stuff like this:

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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ob⋅ses⋅sion

/əbˈsɛʃən/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [uhb-sesh-uhn] Show IPA

–noun

Couples newly in love are often said to be obsessed with one another.

Sports fanatics are obsessed with their team and follow every win and loss with The Unwavering Faith that their side will eventually prevail.

Some are obsessed with their jobs, their cars, clothes, or political ideology, or cats.

In human history, obsessing has played a large role in charting the course of events. Napoleon and Alexander, with their obsessions over territory; Hitler, with his warped obsession with the Jews; Dubya, with his obsession about the terrorists… (1)

Big time decisions and big time players. The paths of human histroy were spurred on by these obsessions.

But obsessions need not be world-changing.

Little kids are great at the obsession game. My son has lately been obsessed with YouTube videos – particularly one called Firetruck. He loves this simple vid that was clearly produced by some Dad for his son.

And now I have that song going over and over inside my head. And you do too if you clicked on that link.

You’re welcome.

I was reminded of the immense power of obsession the other day when my eldest sub-unit realised that her beloved Blackberry was dead and not likely to be revived without an “up to 6 week” trip to the shop.

Yikes!

She was next to hysterical! Over a phone! A phone! I mean that there were tears, anger, frustration… all rolled into one crazy, almost 17 year old, 5’8”, blonde kid who has 50% of my DNA!

Needless to say, I was extremely worried about this. It couldn’t just be a phone that was causing this distress. There had to be something else! What else was wrong? Was it serious? Could I help in some way? These were the thoughts going through my head at 3 am on the night following the tearful call.

Then, on the bus to work the next morning, I mentioned this to a fellow bus rider who is also a blogger that lives in my ‘hood. After telling her the sad tale and flapping my arms around a bit, she was like:

Meh. Chill. This is normal for a teenage girl.

And I confirmed this with a couple of work colleagues. It’s not really that unusual for a teen to freak out over something that to me is quite mundane.

This seemingly obsessive behaviour over a piece of communications equipment is not something that someone of my generation can really relate to. A phone to a teen – especially and teen girl – is more than a phone; it is a lifeline to her friends. And a teen’s friends are EVERYTHING! Bar none.

So going without a phone is going without that vital lifeline that secures a teen to the things that matter most to her. It’s not the phone per se; it is the isolation that goes with it.

Ah. I think I get it.

My daughter’s obsession with her Blackberry is every much as deep as:

• My obsession with Leafs and their (endless and futile) quest for the Cup,
• Harper’s obsession with a majority government
• Christians’ obsessions with myths, and
• Canadians’ obsession with the weather, and
• Tiger Woods’ obsession with, uh, you-know-what

What are you obsessed with?

1. Or whatever it was that powered that tiny, tiny mind.

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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And with the Haiti quake, we are once again reminded of this.

It is cosmically unfair that this small and impoverished nation is once again hit by unimaginable tragedy.  There is no good that can come from such suffering and no amount of money and aid will erase the memories and the injuries of those who survived.

But money and aid will help the people of Haiti cope and begin to rebuild. If  you can, please give to a worthy organization such as the Red Cross.

Going forward I dearly hope that the international community – especially the hemisphere’s wealthier nations such as Canada, the U.S. and Brazil – now take the reins and make a long-term commitment to rebuilding the nation and help the Haitians to solve some of their own internal problems.

Sad. So, so very sad.

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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