Dear Diane,
Reading the political news over on the blog of my good friend the Hack at http://www.hacksandwonks.blogspot.com/, I was made aware of the about face Stephane Dion has made on his green shift plan. *Slow Clap*
I'll be honest with you, I believe that we should be doing as much as we can to be helping our environment and I believe that carbon taxes are probably the way we'll be moving in the future, but even I understood how stupid and useless it was to make the central plank of your campaign a tax on Industry in a climate of economic uncertainty. One of the cornerstones of business is that the producer almost never takes the hit when things get tough; the cost is passed on to the consumer. On top of that, the province of BC, probably the most progressive in Canada, is currently grumbling over the cost increases that are coming out of their Carbon Tax. Why, oh why, would anyone believe that this is a good idea at a time like this, is beyond me.
But having said that, why would you change your tune in the middle of an election? Right or wrong, the Liberals were providing a choice from the Conservative platform that has been run pretty safe and middle of the road thus far. The Green Shift was a bad idea in June, July and August and Dion felt that he could still fight an election on this issue, mainly because it is the only place where he has any credibility, which I still don't understand since he is the former environment minister and had his opportunity to make a difference on that front; But that is of no consequence to me.
When all is said and done in this election, I believe this backpeddle will be a big deal for alot of people in our country, Liberals or not. The party stuck their neck out on this issue and since then things have been going down the drain. To back down at this point shows just how disasterous the decision to place electoral hopes on an untested environmental policy has been. There is no question that the environment is important to Canadians, but the economic fears that go along with such an overarching initiative are too much to overcome in a general election for an opposition party.
Good policy? Possible. Good Politics? Not in the least
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Blue with Envy
Mrs. C,
As you know, I love working on campaigns, and I plan to do a little work down here on the Presidential race for McCain, but I miss the Canadian Political scene too. I was on the phone with a good friend of mine this afternoon when I got some news that made me really wish I was at home. Thomas Steen, Winnipeg Jet legend and fine, upstanding Winnipegger, has decided to run for the Conservatives in Elmwood-Transcona. I know, that's old news, but the people working on his campaign is news to me. My friend Jeff will be running things as the campaign manager; He's a very capable campaigner and has helped get many people elected, including himself. But the cool thing is the people that they have lined up to be co-chairs of the campaign; Winnipeg Jets legends and NHL Hall of Famers Dale Hawerchuk and Bobby Hull! If I was home right now, I'd be spending every spare moment in Transcona trying to get Thomas Steen elected...and trying to get war stories out of three of the best to ever step over the boards at Winnipeg Arena. I'm actually a little bummed out that I won't be around for it, but I'm happy for all my buddies who will get an opportunity to help Steen take his place in Parliament.
As you know, I love working on campaigns, and I plan to do a little work down here on the Presidential race for McCain, but I miss the Canadian Political scene too. I was on the phone with a good friend of mine this afternoon when I got some news that made me really wish I was at home. Thomas Steen, Winnipeg Jet legend and fine, upstanding Winnipegger, has decided to run for the Conservatives in Elmwood-Transcona. I know, that's old news, but the people working on his campaign is news to me. My friend Jeff will be running things as the campaign manager; He's a very capable campaigner and has helped get many people elected, including himself. But the cool thing is the people that they have lined up to be co-chairs of the campaign; Winnipeg Jets legends and NHL Hall of Famers Dale Hawerchuk and Bobby Hull! If I was home right now, I'd be spending every spare moment in Transcona trying to get Thomas Steen elected...and trying to get war stories out of three of the best to ever step over the boards at Winnipeg Arena. I'm actually a little bummed out that I won't be around for it, but I'm happy for all my buddies who will get an opportunity to help Steen take his place in Parliament.
Should I book a flight home?
Diane,
About a month before I left, I became a delegate to the Conservative Party of Canada Policy convention for the riding of Portage-Lisgar. I was unsure if I was going to be able to make it, since I was likely leaving for school, but I had such a great experience in Montreal at our last convention in 2004 that I didn't want to miss the opportunity if I was still in the province.
In the leadup to my leaving, I had a conversation with a wise political friend of mine who told me not to worry about it since we were likely going to have an election in the fall and they would call off the Policy convention. His logic was flawless; The CPC would be hitting up the core supporters for money during the election, the same people likely to go to the convention, where costs are considered donations to the party; election laws limit the amount of money you can give on an annual basis; therefore, no convention because alot of delegates would have hit their cap for donations.
I get this in my e-mail today:
Dear Convention08 delegate,
Even though a federal election has been called, the Conservative Party of Canadas Convention 08 will still take place, as planned, from November 13th-15th in Winnipeg, Manitoba. If you have not done so, please make travel plans and book your hotels as soon as possible to ensure you receive optimal dates and accommodations. Hotels and flights are booking up.
My wise friend was wrong and now I have a delegate spot from a country away. I want to go, but this is looking like it will be a last minute decision. Any ideas?
About a month before I left, I became a delegate to the Conservative Party of Canada Policy convention for the riding of Portage-Lisgar. I was unsure if I was going to be able to make it, since I was likely leaving for school, but I had such a great experience in Montreal at our last convention in 2004 that I didn't want to miss the opportunity if I was still in the province.
In the leadup to my leaving, I had a conversation with a wise political friend of mine who told me not to worry about it since we were likely going to have an election in the fall and they would call off the Policy convention. His logic was flawless; The CPC would be hitting up the core supporters for money during the election, the same people likely to go to the convention, where costs are considered donations to the party; election laws limit the amount of money you can give on an annual basis; therefore, no convention because alot of delegates would have hit their cap for donations.
I get this in my e-mail today:
Dear Convention08 delegate,
Even though a federal election has been called, the Conservative Party of Canadas Convention 08 will still take place, as planned, from November 13th-15th in Winnipeg, Manitoba. If you have not done so, please make travel plans and book your hotels as soon as possible to ensure you receive optimal dates and accommodations. Hotels and flights are booking up.
My wise friend was wrong and now I have a delegate spot from a country away. I want to go, but this is looking like it will be a last minute decision. Any ideas?
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Silver Lining...
Dear Diane,
I'm sure you watched the game today. A 34-31 loss after leading by 17 going into the 4th. I'm listening to Bob Irvine dissect the corpse of this all-but-dead team and actually I'm smiling. It's not because I hate my boys in blue, it's not because I jumped ship to the US and I'm not around to watch them find new ways to lose; It's because I'm thinking of my Grandpa Mazolleck and a story my Uncle Rob told me years ago.
My grandpa was a huge Bomber Fan and is one of the reasons I followed the Bombers as religiously over my life, but he was banned from the stadium by my uncle and his buddies when the Bombers had a huge lead over the Riders one season in the late 80s- early 90s. He yelled out "Put in Hufnagle!" at the Riders coaching staff and the did. John Hufnagle lead the Roughriders to a huge 4th quarter comeback and enraging the bomber faithful. For years my grandfather got flak for it, which he always took with a smile.
Not pleased that the blue pulled another loss out of the jaws of victory, but it's always nice when a good memory of my grandpa comes to mind.
I'm sure you watched the game today. A 34-31 loss after leading by 17 going into the 4th. I'm listening to Bob Irvine dissect the corpse of this all-but-dead team and actually I'm smiling. It's not because I hate my boys in blue, it's not because I jumped ship to the US and I'm not around to watch them find new ways to lose; It's because I'm thinking of my Grandpa Mazolleck and a story my Uncle Rob told me years ago.
My grandpa was a huge Bomber Fan and is one of the reasons I followed the Bombers as religiously over my life, but he was banned from the stadium by my uncle and his buddies when the Bombers had a huge lead over the Riders one season in the late 80s- early 90s. He yelled out "Put in Hufnagle!" at the Riders coaching staff and the did. John Hufnagle lead the Roughriders to a huge 4th quarter comeback and enraging the bomber faithful. For years my grandfather got flak for it, which he always took with a smile.
Not pleased that the blue pulled another loss out of the jaws of victory, but it's always nice when a good memory of my grandpa comes to mind.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
It's been a while
Dear Diane,
It's been almost 2 weeks since I last wrote, and I really should get back into the game, keeping you informed of the goings on in Tulsa. Right now, I think have just enough time to tell the story of yesterday afternoon.
I got my laptop on the 16th of August. It was a decent price to begin with, but with all the upgrades and modifications I made to it, the price went up a couple hundred dollars. But I needed it for school, so it was justified. Yesterday, I found out that I apparently hadn't spent enough.
I was sitting in a review session for Contracts and opened my Word processor to take notes. I was able to open the document, but for some reason I couldn't make any changes, like typing new notes. Since I had yet to find the Product Code that I needed to initialize my Microsoft Office, I figured that I had been locked out until I found it, so I called Best Buy to find out what it was. On the phone, I was informed that I didn't purchase Office and that what I've been using for the past 3 weeks was only a trial program; I needed to come in and pay an extra $100 to get the real deal. Not happy.
My little rant on him goes as follows: I'm a law student. I informed the guy helping me of this, even showed him a paper with the specifics that I needed for school. He took his time to go over the Product Service Plan that he figured I'd need, he even told me that they could install additional security on it for a $150(both of which I bought), but how in all that is Holy could they let me walk out the door with a trial copy of office when they knew that I would be using that program each and everyday?!? He didn't have anything to say to that.
I find out that through the school I can get a copy of the program for 10 bucks, so I don't need to deal with the good people over at Best Buy, but this happened at 4:50 on Friday afternoon. I have a research assignment that is due next Wednesday that I was planning on knocking out and had no way of getting it done, since I needed to submit it in word. The businessnoffice closes at 5 PM and I'm all the way across campus. So I dump my laptop on my buddy Jordan and take off running.
Just so you know, I've started running again lately, and I went to the gym to use the track for the first time yesterday(beautiful facility). I ran 3 miles yesterday, which is pretty much my max right now. Why is this important? Because I am now wearing skate shoes, with 9 minutes to spare, running on pavement with legs that are screaming for me to stop. I'm weezing, weaving and sweating my way across TU in a feeble last gasp attempt to salvage my weekend and keep my sanity, cursing Bust Buy the whole way.
I run through the doors of Twin Towers and see the housing office. I walk in and ask the woman at the front dest where I can find the business office.
"Business office? That's in MacRae Hall, across the quad. But it's 4:57, you're not going to make it!"
"I was told the business office was the place to go to get a copy of microsoft office. Is that really at MacRae Hall?"
"Oh no, that's the computer office. Up the stairs and to your left." Whew.
Twin Towers is under construction, so the place is an absolute mess. Doors are blown off; plaster and drywall reign. There is no sign of a staircase. 4:58.
I run to the other end of the hall andd find a guy to tell me where the stairs are. They're apparently hidden behind a door that looks like a closet with no sign. Guy looks at me like I'm crazy for not knowing that. Sorry buddy, but I was just looking for a staircase, I don't need to be flipping statue heads to find the batpole and Wayne Manor. 4:59.
I run up the stairs and down the hall, getting to the door with a second to spare. The guys were just walking out the door for the weekend. And now? I get to do my assignment! Yay, what I prize.
Moral of the story: Ask every possible question when dealing with buying a computer. It isn't fun when something like this happens.
It's been almost 2 weeks since I last wrote, and I really should get back into the game, keeping you informed of the goings on in Tulsa. Right now, I think have just enough time to tell the story of yesterday afternoon.
I got my laptop on the 16th of August. It was a decent price to begin with, but with all the upgrades and modifications I made to it, the price went up a couple hundred dollars. But I needed it for school, so it was justified. Yesterday, I found out that I apparently hadn't spent enough.
I was sitting in a review session for Contracts and opened my Word processor to take notes. I was able to open the document, but for some reason I couldn't make any changes, like typing new notes. Since I had yet to find the Product Code that I needed to initialize my Microsoft Office, I figured that I had been locked out until I found it, so I called Best Buy to find out what it was. On the phone, I was informed that I didn't purchase Office and that what I've been using for the past 3 weeks was only a trial program; I needed to come in and pay an extra $100 to get the real deal. Not happy.
My little rant on him goes as follows: I'm a law student. I informed the guy helping me of this, even showed him a paper with the specifics that I needed for school. He took his time to go over the Product Service Plan that he figured I'd need, he even told me that they could install additional security on it for a $150(both of which I bought), but how in all that is Holy could they let me walk out the door with a trial copy of office when they knew that I would be using that program each and everyday?!? He didn't have anything to say to that.
I find out that through the school I can get a copy of the program for 10 bucks, so I don't need to deal with the good people over at Best Buy, but this happened at 4:50 on Friday afternoon. I have a research assignment that is due next Wednesday that I was planning on knocking out and had no way of getting it done, since I needed to submit it in word. The businessnoffice closes at 5 PM and I'm all the way across campus. So I dump my laptop on my buddy Jordan and take off running.
Just so you know, I've started running again lately, and I went to the gym to use the track for the first time yesterday(beautiful facility). I ran 3 miles yesterday, which is pretty much my max right now. Why is this important? Because I am now wearing skate shoes, with 9 minutes to spare, running on pavement with legs that are screaming for me to stop. I'm weezing, weaving and sweating my way across TU in a feeble last gasp attempt to salvage my weekend and keep my sanity, cursing Bust Buy the whole way.
I run through the doors of Twin Towers and see the housing office. I walk in and ask the woman at the front dest where I can find the business office.
"Business office? That's in MacRae Hall, across the quad. But it's 4:57, you're not going to make it!"
"I was told the business office was the place to go to get a copy of microsoft office. Is that really at MacRae Hall?"
"Oh no, that's the computer office. Up the stairs and to your left." Whew.
Twin Towers is under construction, so the place is an absolute mess. Doors are blown off; plaster and drywall reign. There is no sign of a staircase. 4:58.
I run to the other end of the hall andd find a guy to tell me where the stairs are. They're apparently hidden behind a door that looks like a closet with no sign. Guy looks at me like I'm crazy for not knowing that. Sorry buddy, but I was just looking for a staircase, I don't need to be flipping statue heads to find the batpole and Wayne Manor. 4:59.
I run up the stairs and down the hall, getting to the door with a second to spare. The guys were just walking out the door for the weekend. And now? I get to do my assignment! Yay, what I prize.
Moral of the story: Ask every possible question when dealing with buying a computer. It isn't fun when something like this happens.
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