Tax Filing Deadline

Revenue Canada reminds everyone tonight at midnight is the deadline for filing your income tax return.

Truth Spoken

How Swine Flu spreads from pigs to humans

Shhh Lloyd, Quiet Peter

Over a cup of coffee a friend made the remark, "You know the nice thing about the Swine flu thing, is we don't have to hear how bad the economy is every night". When you think about that it is so true, kind of sad but true. Sad that something like Swine flu would be the catalyst for improvement but true in the fact that every night, one at 10:pm, the other at 11: pm, the bad news bears,
Peter and Lloyd close out our day with how bad it all has been.
The economy worsens, GMC and Chrysler teeter on the verge of bankruptcy, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan continues with little hope of a win, little hope of ending and casualties on both sides.
Now I realize the television stations have to report the news, the newspapers have to sell copies and all of that but really how can the economy get better, how can investor confidence be restored, when all you hear is this negative stuff continually.
Bad news sells, no question, but shhh Lloyd, quiet Peter, can you tone it down just a bit?

What Happens Down in Mexico stays in Mexico

Roll Over Little Shark, Play Dead Little Shark

First place in the entire league, The Presidents Trophy, first to be eliminated (well not quite) but you get the point. The over rated, under achieving San Jose Sharks have done it again. Eliminated by the 8th seed Anaheim Ducks.
Boasting the so called best goaltending tandem in the league, disappearing superstars such as Joe Thorton and Patrick Marleau, and a couple of supposedly strong free agent signings at the deadline, the sad sack Sharks are heading for the golf course again.
Someone keep an eye on Joe Thorton though. He may disappear after the first hole!

No More Pontiac - Say it isn't so

General Motors Corporation has announced plans to kill Pontiac in an attempt to save the company. Not Pontiac, say it isn't so.
My first car was a 1966 Pontiac Parisienne, two door, deep red in color and for its day, a dream car.
I was in Lethbridge attending LCC which then was connected with the University of Lethbridge. It was actually my brothers car and he and I shared a little house north of Lethbridge so a car was a must.
When he decided to return to our home town of Peace River, Alberta he left me his 1966 Pontiac. Somewhere along the way he purchased another car and the Parisienne became mine. Two doors, automatic transmission, power to spare, a sweet car which served me for several great years until I traded it off for a truck. The truck was needed but the memories from that first car always remain. I hope General Motors and Chrysler straighten the ship and get it righted again and Ford continues to move along creating more memories for people of their first cars. There's something special about that first car, kind of like first love or the loyalty of a great dog. Those memories never really go away.

North America's not so subtle attack on Christianity

The Beagle and The Bichon

You wonder if dogs can be best friends. Well these two sure seem to be.
Trevor, the Beagle, and Diego, the Bichon, follow each other around, play together for hours, share each others toys and generally seem to look out for each other.
They could probably teach people some things about friendship.

Three Monkeys

A man walked into a pet store looking to buy a monkey. The pet store owner pointed to three identical looking monkeys in politically correct cages.
"The one on the left costs $500" says the store owner. "Why so much?" asks the customer. "Because it can program in C" answers the owner.
The customer inquires about the second monkey. "Oh that one is $1500. It knows Visual C++ and Object-Rational technology.
The startled man then asks about the third monkey. "That one costs $3000" answers the owner. "3000 dollars, says the man. "What can that one do"?
To which the owner replied "To be honest, I've never seen him do a single thing in all the time he has been here, but he claims to be a government worker.

Silence is Golden

I have never liked silence. Never liked coming home to an empty house and usually within minutes would flip on the TV or the radio or something. Even now, the radio chirps away in the background, streaming audio you know, with some representative of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) wailing away about the evils of fishing and wearing furs. I always thought PETA stood for People Eating Tasty Animals but they tell me not.
Anyway back to silence. Read an article this morning that states quiet time and silence is essential to good health. One expert says people are no longer quietly going about their business. Now they go about their business with a cell phone stuck to one ear, or headphones or something. Anything but silence. Add to that MP3players that people, especially kids walk around with and silence is anything but golden. Apparently an MP3 can reach a sound level of 94 dB - just slightly lower than a powerful lawn mower. Now could you imagine having your head an inch away from a lawn mower all day. The World Health Organization is even getting concerned saying noise seriously harms human health and interferes with daily activities.
Well so does work, but I don't see that coming to an end anytime soon.
The WHO goes on to say noise can result in hearing loss, cardiovascular disease, agression, fatique and insomnia. A further study done by Perdue University found that children who come from noisy homes have delayed language skills. Makes sense, if the TV or radio is always on, when do they get a chance to talk.
I don't buy everything in this article especially the part about getting a push lawn mower to replace my power mower but I am sure they are correct.
Question is how do you put the world on mute?

Bruins Hockey

Mike's an old Dinosaur

So Winnipeg Blue Bombers coach Mike Kelly has referred to Saskatchewan as the crotch of Canada. Well anatomically speaking as Saskatchewan is right beside Manitoba then I guess you know what Manitoba would be.
And the crotch is really quite useful so I think Mike Kelly probably is complimenting the province and who really cares what he thinks? Mike Kelly is an
old dinosaur who relies on old school methods and has no respect for his players, past or present. How did he refer to Tom Canada. Well says Mike "When we got rid of Mike Canada" Got rid of? Isn't that a nice way to refer to a veteran player who gave his all to the Blue and Gold when he played there.
Mike Kelly has also gotten rid of Kevin Glenn and replaced him with someone Edmonton no longer wanted.
I'm betting Mike Kelly doesn't last the season in Winnipeg. At any rate the way the
Saskatchewan Rough Riders are going, it will be the Riders, Winnipeg and Hamilton battling out out for mediocrity and of course throw in the Argonauts as well.
It could be an interesting season with the real battle to see who finishes last.
So wait six games or so and see where the old Dinosaur has his team

We Want It

Boston 4 Montreal 1
Bruins sweep series 4 games to 0

Mere words can not express adequately the joy, the bliss, the sheer delight of having the Boston Bruins sweep the
Montreal Canadiens in four straight. Nothing could be better than this. Old child hood scars, haunting memories of the
Canadiens eliminating Orr, Esposito and the other Bruins will begin to fade.
A Stanley Cup would be great, but taking Montreal in four straight is pretty good too.

As a side bar - Montreal fans, lighten up on Carey Price. He will be a great goaltender if you don't destroy him first.

Heads in the Sand

So now the Saskatoon Health Region wants citizens of Saskatoon to pay for the mess they have created. Ofcourse I'm talking about the City of Saskatoon needle exchange program. Saskatchewan distributes free of charge about four million needles in a so called exchange program. Thousands of these needles never get exchanged and end up lying in parks where children play. The SHR downplays that saying even if they get poked by one of these needles, there is little chance of getting AIDS, despite the fact the incidence of AIDS is up 40% in this province. The program doesn't work. Now the Saskatoon Health Region has announced a recovery program, thats as in recovering the needles. Citizens of Saskatoon can purchase, yes thats right, citizens who want to clean up this mess, can buy a recovery kit and pick up the needles themselves.
How long are we going to be held hostage to these health do gooders, who profit from this program? How much will we take? First they make the mess, create the problem, then want the fire department to clean it up, then concerned citizens can clean it up and then we'll charge them, sell them a recovery kit.
This is a joke. Its time the Saskatoon Health Region, the City of Saskatoon and the Government of this province got their heads out of the sand.
****Note*** Here's an addendum to this story. A report late today out of Regina says two full boxes of these needles were found in a Regina apartment. Apparently drug dealers, thats DEALERS, are now selling these needles to junkies for a dollar a needle. Talk about political correctness run amuck. These people just don't get it.

Thanks for Sharing

My alarm clock radio woke me early this morning as it seems to have a habit of doing. The first thing I heard, I mean the very first thing was the Bank of Canada forecasting that the recession is going to be much worse than they had predicted.
Well thank you for that. I mean I really want to bounce out of bed this morning and start making my sales calls. Start telling my customers that they should advertise, business is good, people are waiting to buy.
Sometimes I wish these financial people who sit in Ivory towers with their six figure salaries would just shut up. Sure things aren't rosy everywhere but in Saskatchewan, as we crawl out of our igloos, we haven't got it all that bad.
Reminds me of a missionary who once told me. They went to a foreign country where the people didn't have much, were basically quite poor, but they were a happy people. After several years of being there the people were still poor, still didn't have much but they weren't quite so happy anymore. Why? Because the foreigners who had come to visit them, and improve their lot had convinced them they didn't have much so they shouldn't be happy. Sad but true.
So thanks for the cheery news Bank of Canada. But tomorrow can you kind of keep it to yourself.

What's Bru-in

Another exciting win for the Boston Bruins. One step closer to eliminating the Montreal Canadiens and erasing painful childhood memories. Best is the Bruins winning a Stanley Cup. Second best is the Bruins eliminating the Montreal Canadiens.
Remember the goal. I mean THE GOAL Bobby Orr scored to eliminate the St. Louis Blues and give the Bruins the Stanley Cup.
Can the Bruins do it again?

IOC Steals A Page From The Taliban

Can anybody figure out the rational behind the IOC and their decision not to allow female ski jumpers in the 2010 Olympics. Male ski jumpers have been in the Olympics since 1924 but not so with female ski jumpers. 15 lady ski jumpers will take the IOC to court next week in an effort to try to get into the games in Vancouver in 2010
Why should they have to go to court? Haven't we got past the days of women not being allowed to play golf, not being allowed to play hockey, not being allowed to go into certain establishments? Apparently the IOC has not. Are they taking their direction from the Taliban? Where are the outraged feminists and female rights groups on this one? The IOC says the decision not to allow female ski jumpers was based on "technical merit". What the hell does that mean?
They go on to say the women ski jumpers don't meet the IOC criteria. What the hell does that mean? And apparently female hockey players do?
Its time this decision was overturned and female ski jumpers allowed to compete.
Its also time that the Old Boy's Club that runs the Olympics was sent packing as well.

Who's Really Ugly

I think its time for all this hype over Susan Boyle to die down and go away. And really it must all be very hurtful for her. For the whole world to be judging you on your looks, I'm just not sure about that. Susan Boyle has a beautiful voice and she won over a hostile crowd and at least one judge who's a bit of a jerk anyway.
But what if that beautiful voice and that fantastic rendition of the song had not come out? What if she had as they say really bombed? The crowd would have treated her unmercifully, Simon would have been even more ignorant than he usually is but would any of that made Susan Boyle less of a human being, less deserving of kindness and proper treatment that any human being should have a right to.
When Simon asked Susan her age, she replied 47. His eyes rolled around in his head and he rolled back his head like 47 was an age at which one should be buried.
Whats wrong with being 47? One of the judges even said when she finished, everyone was laughing at you, nobody's laughing now. Well shame on them for laughing. Shame on them for their judgement.
If this little episode proved one thing its this - Who is really ugly? Well in this case I think its society.

My Saddest Story Ever Told

This is my 100th posting as a blogger. Now friends, family and most socialists who know me would say thats not a big surprise. He's an opinionated jerk with a big mouth. For what its worth, I happen to agree with that assessment.
But I wanted to make my 100th special so here it is:
MY SADDEST STORY EVER TOLD
Once upon a time, many years ago there was a Boston Bruins hockey team. Now this was no ordinary Boston Bruins team. It featured #4 Bobby Orr, the greatest player ever, and a supporting cast that included Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge, Wayne Cashman, and Gerry Cheevers. Their opponent in the playoffs - The Montreal Canadiens.
Now like most Montreal Canadiens teams, this team had no-one and what made the plum even juicer, they had some untested, untried goaltender from Cornell University of all places. Even better, everyone knows hockey players aren't smart.
That goaltenders name was Ken Dryden. Yes that is the SAME Ken Dryden who is now a
Member of Parliament in Ottawa and still opposing everything the West holds dear.
All those years of getting hit by pucks takes it toll. Anyway when the dust had settled Mr. Dryden and his Canadiens walked away with the Stanley Cup. Game set match.
Today the Boston Bruins lead the Montreal Canadiens 2 - 0 in their series. People say to me you're too hard on the Canadiens. You can't cheer against Canada. They're playing the Americans. These people just don't understand. I have scars.
There has been pyschological damage. Left untreated. Back then we didn't run to a psychologist every five minutes and we didn't blame our Mothers for every bump in the road.
I mean, they beat my team.
Todays Boston Bruins bear no resemblance to the old Bruins. There is no Orr, no
Esposito. But I look at the Montreal roster and Carey Price is no Ken Dryden.
So maybe, just maybe, my Bruins, todays Bruins can elminate the Montreal Canadiens and those scars will begin to fade.

THE PRICE IS RIGHT

It did get better. In fact it got much better

Boston 5 Montreal 1

Is Jonas Hiller the real deal?

Two things saved the Anaheim Ducks from quacking up in the opening game of the Stanley Cup playoff series. The first was an unbelievable hot goaltender in Jonas Hiller. Is this guy the real deal? Well one game a series does not make and I guess we will find out with the surety that there will be at least three more games.
The second thing - Have you ever seen a team so renowned for choking than the San Jose Sharks. These guys just choke in the playoffs. I could throw a Linda Lovelace joke in here, but this is a family blog. I think you spot the Sharks a couple goal lead and they would blow it. Joe Thornton disappears come playoff time and the supporting cast that rolls over everyone in the regular season forgets their lines in the playoffs.
Having said that though, has there ever been a better eighth seed than the Anaheim Ducks? Like these guys should have been way better than eighth. Its kind of like the Ottawa Senators. Take away their stinking start and if they had found a way to crawl into the playoffs, I'm not sure I would bet against them.
Meanwhile back to Mr. Hiller. We see tonight if he can do it again.

It doesn't get better than this

Is there anything better than the Boston Bruins beating the Montreal Canadiens in the opening game of the Stanley Cup playoffs? Yes there is. Its the Boston Bruins beating the Montreal Canadiens in the seventh and deciding game of the Stanley Cup final. However we will be just as happy when they beat San Jose or Vancouver or anyone else to win the 2009 Cup

Would you send your child out to play in a garbage dump?

Would you send your child out to play in a garbage dump, to crawl around on broken glass and stinking rotten garbage? Would you hand a smoker a package of cigarettes and tell him this will help him quit smoking? Most of us who are normal or do not have our own vested interest would answer no to those ridiculous questions.
BUT - this is exactly what AIDS - Saskatoon, Egadz, the city of Saskatoon and the provincial government are all asking you to do. Ofcourse I am referring to the ill advised needle exchange program. (Look at Tammy Robert's blog on news talk 650 radio to see the disgusting pictures) Because for many these groups the drug trade and the plight of the junkie and poor is their business as in employment, Saskatchewan leads the way in the number of needles (so called exchanged) and passed out in the country. Despite their efforts the incidence of HIV is up 40% and now as
spring emerges these filthy needles are scattered all about in city parks.
The do gooders rationalize. They say even if a child is pricked by one of these things the chance of getting a disease is very low. Like its ok for the child to touch one. Well most parents I know don't want their child stepping on one of these when they go to the park. Its time this aiding and abetting program, which provides employment for those who vigorously defend it, is done away with.
Whats the alternative? Well there is only one. Get the person into treatment centers where his dependency will be cured. Ask any recovered addict how they recovered and they will tell you two things for sure.
1) They had to reach the bottom. A point so low that they realized they had to get help and they had to recover. How do you bottom out when someone (government funded) supports and supplies your habit?
2) They had to get away from the source of the problem. Whether thats smoking,
drugs or alcohol, you can't keep feeding the habit and expect to recover.
Its time to do away with these groups and their programs. Their way has not worked and it will not work.
Question is - will the government (city or provincial) have the courage? Not very likely.

Needle Disgrace

I have borrowed these pictures from Tammy Roberts blog on the News Talk Radio 650 website. If you haven't read Tammy's report on what is happening with needle and condom exchanges in our cities, well you should.
Tammy's last paragraph pretty much sums it all up. There is a vast array of people who are making money off of this ill sighted needle exchange program and the whole drug culture. From the social workers to the heads of various government funded organizations to the people who are paid to go around and empty these needle drop boxes, its a business for them and why would they want to see it end. Numbers are fudged as to the number of prostitutes on the street, the number of drug users etc.
Why ? Because the darker the picture they paint, the more they increase the number of needy and desperate people, the more government funding they get and the more for their salaries. Am I saying - Are there no desperate and needy people out there?
Of course there are ! But are the numbers as bad as these organizations say. Of that I am not sure.
One thing I do know. Despite their claims, despite their programs, despite their needle and condom exchanges which these educated people said would work, HIV has increased by 40%. Unfortunately their salaries will increase as well and likely
more needles, more condoms and more social workers will be added. Isn't that how the whole system works or in this case
doesn't work

Change a life and golf

If you could help change a life by playing golf for a day, would you?

You would? Well. Here is your chance: The Teen Challenge Marathon of Golf.

For more information about this event, visit www.marathonofgolf.ca/tcsk/,
or contact Diane at golf@tcsk.org or (866) 876-1847.

Event Details:
Date: Monday, June 15, 2009
Location: Moonlake Golf and Country Club
Registration: 9:00 am (breakfast provided)
Shotgun Start: 10:00 am
BBQ Lunch and Steak Supper Provided
This Year's Goals:
Each golfer to raise: $1,500.00
Number of Golfers: 60
Total Funds Raised: $90,000

Yankees 3 Pirates 0

Bo is nice but

(This is Bo)
(And Diego)

Sure Bo is nice and he now lives in the White House, has great manners, taught by the aristocratic Kennedy family (hey my manners might even be good with that kind of dough), but really who is cuter - the rich soon to be pampered Bo or Diego.
I'll take Diego

Man Rules Finally Written By A Man

Finally a guy has taken the time to write the man rules. We always hear "Man Rules" written by a female but finally Mans Rules from a Man.
These are the Man Rules. Notice they are all #1. That is on purpose!!
1) Men are not mind readers
1) Learn to work the toilet seat. If its up, put it down. You're a big girl.
We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1) Sunday sports. Its like the full moon or the changing of the tide. Let it be.
1) Crying is blackmail
1) Ask for what you want. Lets be clear on this one. Subtle hints do not work.
Strong hints do not work. Just say what you want.
1) Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to any question
1) Come to us with a problem ONLY if you want help solving it. Thats what we do.
You can get sympathy from your girl friends.
1) Any thing we said six months ago is inadmissable in an argument
1) If you think you are fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
1) If something we said can be interpreted 22 ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, well we meant the other one.
1) You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both.
If you already know how best to do it, then just do it yourself.
1) Whenever possible, please say what you have to say during the commercials
1) Christopher Columbus did not need directions. What makes you think we do ?
1) All men see in 16 colors like window default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit. It is not a color
1) If it itches, it will get scratched. We do that.
1) If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing" we will act like nothing is wrong.
We know you are lying but its just not worth the hassle
1) If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, then expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1) When we have to go somewhere absolutely anything you choose to wear is fine.
Really.
1) Don't ask what we are thinking about unless you really want to talk about hockey
1) You have enough clothes
1) You have enough shoes
1) I am in shape - Round is a shape
1) I don't mind sleeping on the couch. Its kind of like camping

Old Cars

Took in the Draggins custom car show yesterday. I have always liked old cars.
Wish I had the mechanical ability to do what these guys do. I asked one gentleman how much time he spends restoring cars. He said "When I'm not working, every second of every hour" Guess thats dedication and the meaning of labour of love.
Went to Cuba in January and ofcourse you see lots of old cars, some in surprisingly good shape running around there. So today I pictured two I liked from the Draggins show and a couple pictures of cars in Cuba

Ah If Only

If only these were growing outside. It will come, it will come, it will come.
The plus 18 temperatures for tomorrow have now been down graded to plus 12 so yesterday I decided to help Mother Nature out with the melting process.
I got out the snow blower and snow blowed the back yard. I think the neighbors thought I was nuts. The blower kept stalling so I finally got out the rake and raked the snow. I put a bag over my head so the neighbors wouldn't know it was me.
This whole Environment Canada weather prognosticators thing bugs me. These weathermen must be the highest paid guessers in the world. On Monday they tell you
plus 18 for saturday. So you get all excited about that. Then it gets to Friday and they tell you saturday it will be plus 12 instead. Don't you wish you could be wrong almost all the time and still keep your job?