24 Replies to “Reader Tips”

  1. My Dad used to tell a story about a Saskatchewan farmer who walked into a bank during the Great Depression. The farmer needed a new seed drill, to get the crop in and to try to stop his soil from drifting. He asked the banker for a loan, but the guy flatly refused, stating that the customer was already over his credit limit. The farmer was totally upset, asking the banker to look outside at the dust in the air, and asking for mercy so he could save his land from wind erosion.
    ”Listen” said the banker. ”I’m a reasonable man, and I’m a gambler. I’m a World War One vet, I was seriously injured at Ypres. I lost one eye, however I was lucky to have one of the finest physicians in Toronto repair the damage upon my return to Canada. I was fitted with a glass eye. The doctor did such a fine job that one has ever been able to tell the difference. If on the first guess you can tell which is the glass eye, you can have your seeder.”
    The farmer looked at the banker and said: ”It’s easy. It’s the right eye.”
    ”Correct” said the Banker. ”But how could you tell.”
    ”Easy” said the farmer. ”It’s the eye that shows a tad of compassion.”
    The CBC, for once, did show a tad of compassion in putting this story together.
    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/alberta-oil-crash-people-stories-1.3487381

  2. I remember watching a documentary about John Dillinger on PBS’s “The American Experience” several years ago. He robbed banks and that made him a folk hero. Why?
    People felt that the banks took everything they had and, in some cases, that’s what happened. Being robbed by the likes of Dillinger, or whichever gangster happened to be spreading mayhem and destruction at the time, was seen as a form of justice. Just as the people felt robbed, it seemed appropriate that banks have a similar experience.

  3. I just realized that it has been five years since the tsunami hit Fukushima. None of David ‘three houses’ Suzuki’s predictions have come true.
    Al_in_Ottawa

  4. Funny thing is, I was just in Redmonton a couple weeks ago. It was odd to notice the construction going on, downtown, apart from the arena, in strip malls along the 2, and all these new houses and subdivisions towards Leduc, homes listing for over a million bucks, only 500 yards from the highway.
    Now, I know that ALberta is struggling, but these sights were odd considering the dire straights ALberta is apparently in.

  5. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/03/14/unprecedented-un-global-data-gathering-to-add-huge-amounts-information-for-governments-to-collect.html
    ‘Unprecedented’ UN global data gathering to add huge amounts of information for governments to collect
    According to the U.N. General Assembly resolution that called for their creation, the new SDG indicators are supposed to be “simple but robust.” Among the relatively novel measurements the draft framework proposes to develop:
    The “extent to which global citizenship education and education for sustainable development . . . are mainstreamed at all levels in national education politics, curricula, teacher education and student assessment”

  6. Goodness, I actually saw the Ides of March perform this song live in Winnipeg in 1971. They were a decent showband, not what you’d call brilliant but solid and fun.

  7. Oh yikes. A lot of people fussed when Harper got rid of the long form census. I was surprised when he did, but when I found out that his reason was to protect a citizen’s right NOT to have to answer government questions, I decided he was right. So now the long form is back. And just wait until it gets extended and beefed up to match those UN global goals (a.k.a. sustainable development goals). Seldom have I seen a context more appropriate for the “Be careful what you wish for” meme. Now previously the “jail sentence” for non compliance was also dropped. Bet they will bring that back, plus fines, harassment. We ALL will be expected to answer the UN’s questions.

  8. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatchewan-election-brad-wall-cam-broten-candidates-values-2016-1.3490924
    FIVE candidates in the Saskabush election have impaired driving convictions!!!! Three from the Saska-etc party and two from the NDP, who, unless there are other unsavory types hiding in their stubble fields, can now claim the moral high ground.
    Of course, we BC’ers can’t feel too smug about this,as we have had candidates in previous elections who were (gasp) anti-abortion or anti-gay marriage!
    But when OUR politicians want to get plastered and drive,they do it in a foreign Country!

  9. License for stupidity not required:
    Sarah Palin: “Steve Jobs Should Be Charged With Treason For Not Helping The FBI.”
    Website: Satiri Tribune. Other links on website:
    “Sarah Palin Changes Endorsement to Ted Cruz.”
    “San Bernardino Shooter’s iPhone Password was 6969.”
    Followed by thousands of insults against Palin, her not knowing Steve Jobs is dead. Hilarious.
    http://www.satiratribune.com/2016/02/20/sarah-palin-steve-jobs-should-be-charged-with-treason-for-not-helping-the-fbi/

  10. Why is it not surprising that the Alberta PC Party is made up largely of Liberals in disguise.

  11. They promised to run a “modest” $10b deficit. They were a bit out, $30b not including new “investment.”
    “Trudeau Said to Forgo Added Stimulus With C$30 Billion Deficit.”
    “In an interview this month, Trudeau ruled out significant new stimulus funds, citing in part the need to be careful as the country moves deeper into deficit.”
    Well at least until after the budget speech, with the Bombardier “decision” delayed until sufficient political excuse cover has been concocted.
    What he hasn’t ruled out is a massively increased deficit, triple his “promise,” now on an upward trajectory. All hail the $20b cabin boy.
    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-15/trudeau-said-to-forgo-added-stimulus-with-c-30-billion-deficit

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