Ah, summer. Hot temps. Thunderstorms. Days at the beach. No need for coats, boots or tuques.

Ah.

Summer brings with it a feeling of satisfaction with oneself, one’s community and one’s country. All’s good, man.

I love the heat.. I didn’t when I was a kid… we had a small hobby farm whose composition varied between horses, pigs, chickens, ducks and geese. I hated the geese. They used to grab my bell bottom jeans and beat me with their wings.

Evil critters, geese.

But worst of all was in the summertime and the hay and straw used for food and bedding. I am deadly allergic to pollen and animals (the allergist has told me my biggest bugaboo is the meek little rabbit). Of course, my parents didn’t believe me when I complained of being unable to breathe, stinging eyes and a constantly running nose. They thought I was trying to get outta work. And said work which often consisted of being in a hay loft full of reaction-inducing chaff and hauling bale after bale down to the equally reaction-inducing animals.

This is a big reason why I’m not crazy about animals to this very day. We have a cat. Clarence. But we will NEVER have a dog, rabbit, or any other beast other than some goldfish and maybe a gecko or tarantula.

As a child, winter was a welcome respite from my allergies.

But, as I said in the first paragraph, summer also brings feelings of contentment with one’s lot in life. Canadians are pretty happy at this time of the year. Fresh off Canada Day, we are starting vacations (13 more work days till mine!), BBQing, swimming in pools and at beaches, and not really paying any attention to what is going on around us politically.

Which is why I think Harpy is preparing to call an election.

Yup. Think about it. late August and early September would be ideal for him to go to the polls. The Grits are going nowhere fast with their so-called Leader languishing behind Harpo, Jacko and Groucho in the leadership polls. But the Libs are gaining some of their support back in Ontario and elsewhere, which would not bode well for a ReformCon chance at a majority.

And Ontario and BC voters are pissed off about the HST thing (though I personally think it’s a good idea) and the difference between provincial and federal political parties is not really clear to the average voter. Thus, they may take out some of their anger by voting for the ReformCons. So Stevo must be thinking that the iron is ripe for strikin’! Majority – here we come!!!!

But who needs a majority? The Cons are pretty much getting everything they want anyhow… what with their coalition partner’s support! So why not roll the dice and take a chance at the big time? The Maclean’s writer, Paul Wells (with whom I seldom agree) puts it this way:

If an election goes really well for him, he’ll be Prime Minister when it’s over. But he’s Prime Minister already. And he’s really the Prime Minister. Another evergreen Ottawa myth asserts that Harper is somehow unfulfilled without a parliamentary majority. But he has had a majority for four years, thanks to a succession of not-ready-for-prime-time Liberals. Every budget he has ever whipped up has passed with Liberal votes.

And in concert with the Liberals, Stephen Harper is changing this country. He was able to gut environmental oversight of energy projects in the middle of a historic energy-sector environmental disaster. He is stuffing the nation’s prisons like Christmas geese. He spent $1 billion turning the country’s biggest city into a demonstration of the necessity (if not, ahem, the effectiveness) of tough policing against thugs, rabble, bicyclists and other miscreants. Inside the riot zone, with the world watching, he stared down Barack Obama in a debate over continued fiscal stimulus vs. relative budgetary restraint. He gets to name Supreme Court justices. He gets to name a new governor general. He’s in charge of nominations to every board and agency.

So he gets to have his cake – and with Iggy’s cooperation – eat it too! So go for the gusto and call a fall election!  Worst case scenario is that he is back as PM and still being supported by their “unofficial” coalition partner.

What a cute couple*

Meanwhile – only 13 more work days till my vacation… ahhhh… hope the heat wave sticks around.

Just keep the critters away from me, K?

*thanks to Harper Valley for the pic.

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This is pretty self-evident, isn’t it?

Look at the christian fundamentalists for crap sake… not the reddest apples in the barrel!

I mean, they watch Fox News, believe that dinosaurs and humans shared the same ‘hood, think that Sarah Palin would make a good President and believe that Stephen Harper really is

This is sure gonna spark some fodder on the conservative talk shows!

It

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And so it begins.

PS union leaders are meeting with the President of the Treasury Board, Stockwell “cavemen fought dinosaurs” Day to talk about what they should expect in the next budget, due to be released on March 4th. And federal public servants are justifiably afraid of what the budget may have in store for the PS pension plan – already described by Jimbo Flahtery as “handsome”.

I’ve gone on and on about the PS pension plan, as have others. And if you are in the PS, you pretty much like the status quo, but if you are not, you pretty much think that the pesnions are already way too generous for a buncha lazy good-for-nothing bureaucrats.

So I’m not going to rant on and on about this yet again, except to say this:

Mr. Day, changing the rules of the game is OK if those new rules apply to new employees. They can make the decision whether or not to pursue as a vocation, a career in the PS. The rules of the game are up front and transparent.

But if you dare to change the rules for those of us who have worked hard under the assumption that what we signed on for would still be in place when we retire, then, Mr. Day, you will be in for a fight.  Mark my words.

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The Onion Ring besting the PM is still getting attention.

95,544 fans as of the writing of this post.

Hee-hee. I love it.

Of course, someone has started a counter group: Can this Doorknob get more fans than Michael Ignatieff. I might join the one other fan. Just to show I’m truly non-partisan.

In other news: Colts over Saints – 45-42 (OT)

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After today’s fairly successful protests across Canada, one could answer with a qualified “maybe”.

No, tens of thousands didn’t mobilize on the Hill. But most accounts put the crowd at 3,000 in Ottawa, 10,000 in T.O. and 25 K in total across the country. Not bad for the chattering classes, eh Tony?

Time will tell if these protests are indicative of an awaking of Canucks from our collective slumber and the beginnings of a movement to dethrone the Robot King.

Here’s hoping!

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I like this – many thanks to Impolitical…

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My fave ill-fated Bill is  C-58 – An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service Read 2nd time; referred to Committee.

One place where we need tighter controls is on this type of crap… and the Harperites let it die.

Sad.

1) C-6 – An Act respecting the safety of consumer products Passed 3rd reading in the House of Commons
2) C-8 – An Act respecting family homes situated on First Nation reserves and matrimonial interests or rights in or to structures and lands situated on those reserves Debated at 2nd reading
3) C-13 – An Act to amend the Canada Grain Act, chapter 22 of the Statutes of Canada, 1998 and chapter 25 of the Statutes of Canada, 2004 Debated at 2nd reading
4) C-15 – An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts Passed 3rd reading
5) C-19 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code (investigative hearing and recognizance with conditions) Debated at 2nd reading
6) C-20 – An Act respecting civil liability and compensation for damage in case of a nuclear incident Reported back from Committee with amendments
7) C-23 – An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia Debated at 2nd reading
C-26 — An Act to amend the Criminal Code (auto theft and trafficking in property obtained by crime) Passed 3rd reading
9) C-27 — An Act to promote the efficiency and adaptability of the Canadian economy by regulating certain activities that discourage reliance on electronic means of carrying out commercial activities, and to amend the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act, the Competition Act, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and the Telecommunications Act Passed 3rd reading
10) C-30 – An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts Debated at 2nd reading
11) C-31 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act and the Identification of Criminals Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act Referred to Legislative Committee
12) C-34 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code and other Acts Reported back from Committee with amendments
13) C-35 – An Act to deter terrorism, and to amend the State Immunity Act Debated at 2nd reading
14) C-36 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code Passed 3rd reading
15) C-37 – An Act to amend the National Capital Act and other Acts Read 2nd time; referred to Committee
16) C-40 – An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act 1st reading
17) C-42 — An Act to amend the Criminal Code Read 2nd time; referred to Committee
18) C-43 — An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and the Criminal Code Read 2nd time; referred to Committee
19) C-44 — An Act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act Debated at 2nd reading
20) C-45 — An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act 1st reading
21) C-46 — An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Competition Act and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act Read 2nd time; referred to Committee
22) C-47 — An Act regulating telecommunications facilities to support investigations Read 2nd time; referred to Committee
23) C-52 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sentencing for fraud) Read 2nd time; referred to Committee
24) C-53 – An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (accelerated parole review) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts 1st reading
25) C-54 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to the National Defence Act 1st reading
26) C-55 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code 1st reading
27) C-57 – An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Debated at 2nd reading
28) C-58 – An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service Read 2nd time; referred to Committee
29) C-59 – An Act to amend the International Transfer of Offenders Act 1st reading
30) C-60 – An Act to implement the Framework Agreement on Integrated Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operations between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America 1st reading
31) C-61 – An Act to provide for the resumption and continuation of railway operations 1st reading
32) C-63 – An Act to amend the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act and another Act in consequence thereof 1st reading

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A cold winter’s day here in the nation’s capital sees many hunkered down in their houses with the furnace cranked and an extra blanket or two. Not so for me as I’m writing this on my way to work on the 7 am-ish 148. Not many of us on the bus this morning. No big surprise there. But I’m going to take the opportunity to get some concentration-intensive work done. This time of the year is relatively disturbance-free and one can accomplish much.

But on the way, I’m starting to think about what I will be relfecting on this time next year with regard to the Fools on the Hill… hmmm…

1. Harper will once again prorogue Parliament. This is getting to be old hat for the ol’ robotman and this seems to be as good a time as any… what with torture stuff still percolating and the endless risks of the Minions (MPs) speaking what they are thinking.
2. Spring comes. The threat of H1N1 ends. The economy is picking up steam. The Leafs are on the way to the playoffs… what a great time for an election! Stevo introduces legislation that would make the wearing of red ties punishable under the Criminal Code.  He also expropriates all of the country’s main hockey arenas to be used as regional “War Rooms” in the upcoming election. He likes the photo op potentials. All of the Opposition Parties vote against the Bill and a vote is called for May 16.
3. May 16. The ReformCons are re-elected. Again with a minority. None of the party’s popular vote changes by more than 0.7% compared to the last election.
4. The knives come out and are pointed at Stevo.
5. By mid-July, Stevo is out and little-known backbencher Candice Hoeppner. Being best known as the MP who introduced the Private Member’s Bill to cancel the Long-gun Registry, she decides to further capitalize on this fame by introducing another gun-related Bill – a Criminal Code Amendment making it an offensive to NOT carry a gun on one’s person at all times.
6. Every urban area in Canada – including Calgary and Edmonton – threatens to secede.
7. The Government is once again defeated in the House on a Grit-introduced Confidence Motion… making PM Hoeppner’s reign the shortest in Canada’s history!
8. An election is called for December 29th.

So, this time next year, I predict that I will riding to work that day, and preparing to cast my second federal ballot of 2010. And thinking of moving to a place with a more stable democracy. Like Italy, for example.

Happy New Year everyone!

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The first Terminator has always been one of my fave flicks (1). A killer robot intent on changing the future by changing the past really got my attention. Arnie was über-cool and Linda Hamilton was pretty hot.

But the concept was pretty out there -- especially back in the mid-80′s. I mean, killer robots that look like humans build a time machine while warring with the human race in the then-distant 2029. As the tag line went back then:

In the Year of Darkness, 2029, the rulers of this planet devised the ultimate plan. They would reshape the Future by changing the Past. The plan required something that felt no pity. No pain. No fear. Something unstoppable. They created ‘THE TERMINATOR

Now, in 2009, 2029 is only 20 years away but still… pretty far-fetched, eh?

Which brings me to what has freaked me out.

Boston Dynamics is a small engineering and robotics firm spun off from MIT in 1982. According to its Web site it “builds advanced robots with remarkable behavior: mobility, agility, dexterity and speed.” Mostly military applications: the US Army, Navy, and the Marine Corps.

You might remember their robot dog a couple of years back. Cute little thing that didn’t pee in the corner and would do as told all of the time.

And there is this guy -- called Petman…

According to fastcompany.com, BD says its an “anthropomorphic robot for testing chemical protection clothing. “  Petman will balance itself and move freely; walking, crawling and will also simulate human physiology within the protective suit by sweating when necessary.”

This is the first generation of the machine.

What will Version 15.0 lo0k like?

And does Stevo have plans to create a body-double?

1. It’s likely tied with Predator - the only movie that I know of that starred not one but TWO future Governors!

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I wouldn’t be surprised if the Harperites do try to take cedit for saving the lives of Canadians.

(Thanks to Warren Kinsella for this).

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