• My political and social views have become very well established. I have belonged to all three of the major federal parties – yes, even the PC’s briefly back in the early 1980’s…they were so different form the ReformCons. They would actually listen to an opposing view, debate it and agree to disagree. Unlike the Harperites, who just shout at those who disagree with their version of things. And launch attack ads. They are very American that way. But in the past ten years or so, I have found myself less and less patient with those that tend to the right, politically or socially. I still hold onto enough civility to try to debate those who counter my arguments, but my patience grows thinner a helluva lot quicker.

• I also have less patience with zealots on the left. One of the reasons I left the NDP was the “all or nothing” attitude. To be truly accepted into the party, it wasn’t only required that you buy into the political beliefs of the Left, but ALL of the social ones as well.

• Here in Canada, it’s ZED, not ZEE!!! If you want to say zee, move to the U.S., dammit!!!

• Speaking of Americanizations, it’s a hockey sweater, not a jersey. Baseball has jerseys as does football (both types). But with hockey, it’s a sweater. And that place you use to change into and out of your hockey gear, it’s a dressing room, NOT a locker room!

• Have your damn pass or tickets ready for the driver before boarding the bus and do NOT waste my precious time rifling through your bag or pockets!

• Big companies who send me their bills via the post office. Do NOT stuff them with all kinds of stuff that I am not remotely interested in! I have gone to electronic billing for many of my accounts but this option is not available everywhere. Make them available!!

• Seniors! Why must you take so long paying for everything? Do you think that because you suffered through the Depression, WW II or the Cuban Missile Crisis that you have the inherent right to take 5 of my life away while you count out ever last fricking penny???? Learn how to use a debit card!!!

• Why have all of the mainstream media news outlets fired their proofreaders? Attention to detail is an important part of my job and it used to be something I could count on in the better news outlets. But no!! Even the venerable Globe and Mail, which I could count on being precise to a fault is getting lazy and letting spelling and grammatical checks fall by the wayside.

• Religion! I am becoming more and more firmly of the opinion that this is a root cause of all that is hurtful and evil in the world! Not your garden-variety believer, mind you, but those fire and brimstone, we’re ll going to hell, if you ain’t with us, yer against us type. Evangelicals and fundamentalists of ANY religion fall into this net.

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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It is common knowledge that the Harperites and their core supporters (read: he oil and gas industry, Sarah Palin) do not accept the science that – to any intelligent individual – points to overwhelming evidence that the planet is warming up and that human activities have and are contributing to this.

It’s quite clear we have a government that says they believe this is an issue but really don’t care about it.  Andrew Weaver, climatologist at the University of Victoria

But the minority government had yet to do anything to show this view. Yes, lots of inaction but not a lot of action. This withdrawal of research funding tells me three things:

1) Any hope that the Cons would change their position on climate change is as dead as the Leafs’ playoff hopes.
2) We should expect more of this type of the decision in the future.
3) The Cons much vaunted ballyhooing about being a solid supporter of the scientific community is a bunch of crap.

To Iggy and Jack : please merge your parties, force an election and kick these cowboys all the way back to Calgary!!!

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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No mention of this over at Fox “News”, though… now THAT’S a surprise!

But what is most amazing about her interview was that she used the word “ironic” in a correct way! You betcha, Sarah!

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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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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Mr. Day is scheduled today to unveil a government initiative aimed at increasing the efficiency of the federal departments – which manage activities ranging from the war in Afghanistan and relief in Haiti, to income-tax collection, employment insurance and old-age security claims.

Huh, I didn’t realise we were inefficient? Haven’t all of the efficiency programs that we have been subjected to almost each and every year counted for anything or resulted in these cherished “efficiencies”?

Are we still that inefficient? After Blue Ribbon Panels? Streamlining? Corporate Business Architecture?

Man, we in the PS MUST be sooooooo incompetent! You’d think that we would by now be the smoothest and most efficient public service in the freakin’ GALAXY!

And so iut begins – Day has announced the first round of cuts by reducing the number of Governor in Council appointments by 245.

It is interesting to see where these cuts have been made.

Yes, they are patronage appointments and yes, many of these seats were already vacant, but I think this spells out the shape of things to come..

                                                            March 8, 2010

                 Reduction of Governor in Council Positions

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Current
                                                          number         GiC
    Department/                                           of GiC   positions
    Agency              Organization                   positions     reduced
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Agriculture and     Canadian Grain Commission              9           6
     Agri-Food Canada   -----------------------------------------------------
                        National Farm Products Council         9           2
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Canadian Heritage   Canadian Council on the Status
                         of the Artist                        12          12
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Canadian Radio-television and
                         Telecommunications Commission        19           6
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Citizenship and     Canadian Race Relations Foundation
     Immigration Canada  and Investment Committee             24          11
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Environment Canada  Historic Sites and Monuments
                         Board of Canada                      15           2
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        National Round Table on the
                         Environment and the Economy          26           8
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Department of       Canada Development Investment
     Finance Canada      Corporation                          20           9
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Canadian International Trade
                         Tribunal                              9           2
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Fisheries and       Freshwater Fish Marketing
     Oceans Canada       Corporation - Advisory Committee     15          15
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Foreign Affairs     Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada      7           2
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        International Boundary Commission      1           1
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        International Development Research
                         Centre                               21           3
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Roosevelt Campobello International
                         Park Commission                       3           1
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Health Canada       Assisted Human Reproduction Agency
                         of Canada                            13           1
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse     7           1
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Canadian Institutes of Health
                         Research                             19           2
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Human Resources     Canada Employment Insurance
     and Skills          Commission                            4           2
     Development Canada -----------------------------------------------------
                        Canada Mortgage and Housing
                         Corporation                          13           3
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Canada Pension Plan/Old Age
                         Security: Review Tribunals          400          40
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Canada Pension Plan: Pensions
                         Appeals Board                        12           2
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Indian and          First Nations Financial
     Northern Affairs    Management Board                     12           2
     Canada             -----------------------------------------------------
                        First Nations Statistical Institute   15           2
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        National Aboriginal Economic
                         Development Board                    20           7
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Northern Flood Agreement               1           1
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Industry Canada     Business Development Bank of Canada   15           2
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Canada Foundation for Innovation       7           1
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Canadian Space Agency                  2           1
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Canadian Tourism Commission           25          14
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        National Research Council of Canada   22           3
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Natural Sciences and Engineering
                         Research Council                     22           3
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Social Sciences and Humanities
                         Research Council                     22           3
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Space Advisory Board                  19          19
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Standards Council of Canada           13           2
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    International Trade Export Development Canada             15           2
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        NAFTA Secretariat, Canadian Section    1           1
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Labour              Canadian Centre for Occupational
                         Health and Safety                    41          18
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    National Defence    Military Police Complaints
                         Commission                            7           2
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Natural Resources   Alberta - British Columbia Boundary
     Canada              Commission                            1           1
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Alberta - Northwest Territories
                         Boundary Commission                   1           1
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        British Columbia - Yukon -
                         Northwest Territories Boundary
                         Commission                            1           1
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Cape Breton Development Corporation    7           7
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Energy Supplies Allocation Board       1           1
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Manitoba - Saskatchewan Boundary
                         Commission                            1           1
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Saskatchewan - Northwest Territories
                         Boundary Commission                   1           1
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Transport,          Intercolonial and P.E.I. Railways
     Infrastructure      Employees Provident Fund              1           1
     and Communities    -----------------------------------------------------
                        Marine Atlantic Inc.                  15           5
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Parc Downsview Park Inc.              13           4
                        -----------------------------------------------------
                        Via Rail Canada Inc.                  17           4
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Treasury Board      Canada School of Public Service       15           3
     of Canada          -----------------------------------------------------
     Secretariat        Public Sector Pension Investment
                         Board                                12           1
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

1) I always thought “unveiling” was a term better used for art shows, new models of cars or a line of clothing… but this?

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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NOT ONLY THAT, but she received this distinction by:

• Dissing our health care system…

Although a vocal opponent of health care reform in the U.S., Palin revealed that when growing up near Whitehorse, her family would cross the border into Canada to receive health care.

• Calling man-made global warming research “snake oil science

She drew applause from the crowd when she said those who advocate sound science, not “snake-oil science” in discussions about climate change will win the debate. “What’s going on right now is vindication for us that we’re dealing with sound science, not politics,” she said. “People’s eyes and ears are open.”

• Quoting Ronald Reagan
• Calling on Canadians to drill wherever and as much as they can
• Blabbering on about gun “rights”

Seriously, if she had the gall to be booked for a gig in T.O., Vancouver or Montreal, I’m pretty sure the reception wouldn’t have been as friendly.

If the Americans ever elect this buffoon into a position of power – like President – I am moving very, very, very far away!

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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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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Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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Senior’s day? Really? Man, I am SO discriminated against! Like, why NOT a Bald, Bearded, White, Middle aged, Guy Day!!

And if course we’ll get some more of the sordid details on how the government is going to fight the deficit on the backs of the Public Service. Yes, it’s only a salary freeze so far but I would be shocked if there were not some mention of PS pension plan changes or reviews or renewals or some other weasel phraseology.

But hey, it’s a beautiful almost-spring day here in Ottawawawa (temps forecasted into double digits on the weekend!) so maybe I should chill a wee bit.

Naw.

And it looks like the Olympic “bump” ain’t gonna happen! But polling results are all over the map these days. Voters are a little volatile right now. And as much as I would like to see an election at the earliest possible opportunity, now would not be the right moment for anyone to call or force one.

….based on a survey Feb. 24 to March 2 of 2,796 Canadians aged 18 or over. The margin of error associated with a poll of this size is plus or minus 1.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

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