77 Replies to “October 21, 2020: Reader Tips”

  2. Steve E – I never knew Steve Winwood sang those hits. What an incestuous bunch. He was in a band with bassist Bill Perks – who changed his name to Bill Wyman and dated a singer named Christine Perfect who later became Christine McVie. And tons of other famous connections. It’s like spinoffs from Archie Bunker. Sad all the same. Talented guy.

  4. Outrage in Germany after Afghan migrant who was arrested for ‘raping an 11-year-old’ was released after 12 days then ‘raped another girl, 13’
    “released less than two weeks later after authorities claimed there was no evidence he was likely to re-offend” and “prosecutors claim that there were ‘doubts’ about the evidence of the alleged 11-year-old victim”. Victimhood status trumps gender, again.

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8580315/Outrage-Germany-Afghan-migrant-rapes-two-girls.html

      1. V.O.W.G. – In several middle eastern countries that is correct. I knew an army captain who had to declare his very feminist wife as his property when he entered Kuwait about 18 years ago. She didn’t like it but grew to like the expat life style.

    1. B.A.D. – This video shows the team who spent years make OSIRIS-REx a success as it lands on the asteroid. The lead scientist spent a third of his life focused on this mission. At 49:30 you can see a simulation as OSIRIS-REx is about to touch the asteroid (real footage will take a while to process they said) and it’s looks very real. Ditto at 1:03:50.

      At 1:09:52 the team celebrates after years of hard work. Obviously they didn’t go to a non-merit school in California.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFNaTjw8GZA

      1. The lead scientist spent a third of his life focused on this mission.

        Much of that time was spent in idling while the spacecraft was in transit. However, perhaps even more time was used in the design process.

        Having been involved with spacecraft payload design many years ago, I saw first-hand how things were done and it’s not like what many people think happens. Aside from defining the mission objectives, specific details, such as what will actually be done and at what level, need to be decided.

        I saw how one principal investigator refused to give a prime contractor that information, claiming he “didn’t know” what he was looking for. Someone clearly forgot that time is money and that such things need to be determined in order to continue with the design in order to meet the expected launch window. That meant that nobody could calculate how much power was needed to run the experiment or how the power bus would be configured, let alone how the package would be laid out and, later, built. The discussion went back and forth and I don’t think the issue was ever resolved.

        Eventually, the whole thing was scrapped when the principal investigator “lost interest”. A lot of taxpayer money was spent for nothing, not to mention the time that was wasted.

        Then, of course, there were those who always wanted to add one or two more bells and whistles at the last minute, only to be disappointed when there was either no money for them or the added time to include them would have caused the launch date to slip.

        Obviously they didn’t go to a non-merit school in California.

        Considering some of the people I knew who worked in the business, I might take issue with that. A lot of them were, frankly, crap artists who had no idea what they were talking about but had the “right” people convinced they did.

    1. Actually, there is a more heartless one across the strait in Victoria. A councilman name of Ben Issit introduced a motion to stop paying for Remembrance Day services last year. Ben fancies himself as the king of progressives, blamed alt right media and Conservative blogs or the opposition to removing Sir John’s statue from city hall. He is representative of most of the council, completely useless when it comes to managing a commnity.

    1. Remember what Dr. Xim/xer/xit Whoohoo Tamiflu told us about doing it maskless…..

  11. “The ‘New South Souls to the Polls Initiative’ is paying churches a $6 contribution “for each documented early vote” to cover the expenses for outreach and transportation to help people vote early by absentee ballot, according to a letter mailed to pastors by Hank Sanders, a former longtime Democratic state senator from Selma who is organizing the effort. The New South Coalition is a predominately Black political group that is dedicated to the “progressive ideals of freedom, justice and democracy.”

    https://apnews.com/article/alabama-elections-voting-2020-db924cdb264980560cc44c76987012df

    Vote early, vote often!

    1. Chris “progressive ideals of freedom, justice and democracy” mean just the opposite.

  12. Last one, I promise….
    https://www.livescience.com/new-salivary-gland.html
    “Scientists have discovered a new organ: a set of salivary glands set deep in the upper part of the throat…The newly discovered set are about 1.5 inches in length on average. Because of their location over a piece of cartilage called the torus tubarius, the discoverers of these new glands have dubbed them the tubarial salivary glands.”

  13. The pain of WhuFlu has reared it’s ugly head yet once again.
    Here are some more store closures due to bankruptcy: Calgary’s own Swimco, after 45 years, is closing its doors. Also, David’s Tea shops, except for one location, in the City of Calgary.

    Also, possibly some Canadian Tire Stores and possibly Hudson’s Bay.

    On a personal level I would miss The Bay for the most part. I have memories of shopping at it before it was bought by the Hudson’s Bay Co. It was known as The Henry Morgan Co. then. It was also known as Morgan’s, or if you were French Canadian or from France, it would’ve been known as chez Morgan (pronounced: Shay Morrgaa)

    Today, I chatted with a new Immigrant to Canada about the fact that the Bay has been in operation since (May 2,) 1670. (It was sold in 2006 to American Jerry Zucker) (You can find more info about The Bay online) The gentleman was amazed that we even had such an old establishment here in Canada.

    Here’s more info about other stores and the sorry state of affairs in the Shopping World. Jeff Bezos and Amazon are still not my cup of tea. I do, however, now, get groceries delivered through a great outfit called Instacart. (Not too old fashioned yet)

    I hope I won’t have to give in and give Amazon my business in the future. Free enterprise and Capitalism still rule over Communism, though, I’ll give him that. He’s too monopolistic for me.

    Let’s pray we don’t go over that cliff and become totally like Venezuela. Frankly it’s hard not to– with the likes of Trudeau and his merry band of thieves!

    Here’s that link:
    https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/hbc-canadian-tire-could-be-in-trouble-next-during-pandemic-retail-expert-1.5059416

    1. NR, Canadians have been voting for a twinning with Venezuela for many years, they really do want just that. There can be no other explanation for the insanity that is Canada.

      1. It would be easy to fix Venezuela.
        Just as easy to fix Canada.
        Take away the vote from the gender that loves socialism.
        I’ll give up the curtains.

    2. A number of retail outlets in shopping centre I live close to never re-opened. Gone are a shop that sold lawn-clipping tea, a place that sold customized baseball caps (I got two of them with my amateur callsign made there), a currency exchange, and a hairstylist (though it might have re-located elsewhere in the complex).

      The Victoria’s Secret closed its doors some time in the last few weeks after being there for several years. Mind you, the company said it would be cutting back its operations a few months ago. Maybe using an I, Napoleonist as a model in its advertising campaign wasn’t such a good idea after all.

      1. I can’t say I feel sorry for Canadian Tire. I used to go to the outlet in my part of the city for all sorts of hardware and automotive items. I could easily find my way around that place.

        Then, a few years ago, it re-located to that horrid two-floor big-box store it put up in South Edmonton Common. Trying to find anything there is a headache, plus the staff that it has now is generally clueless. The only thing I’ll probably need that place for is to check out my truck once I bring it to Edmonton from my house in B. C. and get it registered here in Alberta. Apparently, it’s the only facility in the city that Motor Vehicles will allow me to use.

        1. CDN TIRE is one of Canada’s Biggest HUckster of all things CHINESE. And bloody well Way Way overpriced IMO. The only time I go there is to buy Castrol 10W40 for the Truck for its Annual 15,000km Oil Change. (I have a bypass Oil filtration on it at 5 mU).

          Pretty much everything there is way way overpriced as is Princess Auto. Tons of Chinese JUNK at high pricing.

          1. steakman, you are so right on this one. Chinese/offshore crap at very high prices. I only go in once a year to buy a case of washer fluid for the winter.

          2. I’m afraid you’re right about Canadian Tire. I remember when one could go to a CT and just about build a brand-new motor vehicle from the parts that it had in stock.

            Nearly 40 years ago, I bought a metric Motomaster socket set. Its quality was impressive, close to the stuff that Craftsman used to make. I still use it. I also had a Motomaster battery in my Golf that lasted close to 10 years.

            On the whole, though, I’ve become disappointed with Canadian Tire. There’s absolutely no pride left in that outfit.

            As for Princess Auto, the only time I buy something there is if I can’t get that item anywhere else. Mind you, some of the military surplus gear is of decent quality, whenever it has some in stock. I’m thinking that an ammo can might make a good case for some of my ham equipment.

          3. Shopping at Canadian Tire is akin to having a hangover. It only happens when you have forgotten how bad the experience was the last time. Years ago, a friend told me that Canadian Tire was used in business school as a case study of what to avoid as a business. There is a reason why it is called Crappy Tire. Oh, and avoid buying the gas from them as it tends to have higher carbon levels. The pennies you save now, will be more than offset by the cost of having your fuel system cleaned.

          4. Ed:

            One explanation for Canadian Tire being such a dreadful outfit is that the Billes siblings, majority shareholders as well as children of one of the founders, squabbled with each other for years. That was settled, I think, about two decades ago.

        2. All great comments here on the business of retail, please keep the helpful flow going.

          Just wanted to add that it’s been my experience that junk is junk, no matter where it’s purchased.

          And, time is everything, I’ve purchased at least 4 alarm clocks in the last 20 years. They don’t make them like they used to.

          But, ultimately, and hopefully we all can still get ‘good’ food in the future. That’s important, right.

          1. And, time is everything, I’ve purchased at least 4 alarm clocks in the last 20 years. They don’t make them like they used to.

            I know what you’re referring to. Many years ago, I bought a clock radio as a replacement for one that gave up the ghost. I went to The Source and got one of its in-house models and the alarm function went wonky after a year or so. (Mind you, I paid only a few bucks for it, but still….)

            That item is a candidate for a junk box special. I’ll just cannibalize it for spare parts.

          2. Ha! Ha! I now have a lopsided time piece!
            I’m on the 5th one and so far so good, but the peg leg fell off on one side all by itself!

            The clock is propped up but it’s still askew. I won’t give in to more junk because this junk still works.

    4. I just wrote a letter to the General Manager of the Hudson’s Bay Store in the Cornwall Centre, Regina. I shopped at the Bay, starting in 1966 (age 14) and continued, through, the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s. But it just keeps going downhill and disappointing now. I was there 3 weeks ago, and it looked as if a bomb had been detonated in the shoe department, no displays, boxes everywhere and pawed through. There were very few staff on the floor and those that were, were busy scrolling through their telephone screens.
      When the staff don’t care anymore, why should I, a customer, care?

      1. The one in the aforementioned shopping centre isn’t much better. Try and find a clerk when one needs one.

      2. I miss Eaton’s. When they folded, The Bay had a golden opportunity to become Canada’s department store (American owners not withstanding) and they blew it, IMO. Overpriced Chinese/offshore goods, lousy selection, and non-existent customer service. The only decent location was Queen Street in Toronto but I don’t go into the city anymore, not even to see the Christmas window displays that were a huge part of my childhood.

        1. I’m surprised that HBC is still operating. When Sears was on its last legs two years ago, I was in its Southgate outlet here in Edmonton one evening. I chatted with a clerk and she told me that there were rumours that HBC (which was the south anchor store in that shopping centre) were laying off staff.

          To be honest, I didn’t notice anything. The Bay long had lousy customer service even before it was taken over by its current owner.

        2. O K, when we are buying our shit from a horse drawn wagon and everything is just “so 18th century” I am sure all the socialists in Canada will be ever so happy. I will however, if I live long enough be putting their dead bodies in the same damn cart.

        3. I remember those department store Christmas windows. They were an absolutely wonderful cultural icon.

      3. A few years ago I bought an HBC blanket. It has been on my bed ever since. I love that thing. As someone who has been interested in history the HBC has fascinated me for a long time, but that blanket is the only thing I have ever bought from them.

        Maybe I should buy them for my kids before they go bankrupt.

        1. If the Bay closes, those blankets will become collector’s items, if they aren’t already.

        3. Lucky you. I wish I had one of those blankets. Hudson’s Bay Company history can be found in Beaver Magazine if you can find it. Edmonton has a nice recreation of a Hudson’s Bay outpost at Fort Edmonton Park. I think it was done as part of one of the Canada anniversary celebrations– pre-Trudeau when we were still allowed to celebrate Canadian history. We used to have a great country.

  14. Oh Nooo! Blacklock reports that Infrastructure Barbie has messed up audits/checklists for two thirds of projects she has approved. To be fair, she has to spend a lot of her time checking out dog kennels for ideas for supper.

    1. She’s messed up audits? No, no. She’s a lawyer and is still learning about infrastructure. She’s learned about airports, bridges, and culverts. She’s currently learning about dams. She is however somewhat mystified as to where beavers get concrete.

      1. I guess that if she said she ate dog biscuits, she wasn’t referring to Milk-Bone.

  15. It took some time, but leftists finally got around to bringing sexual assault allegations into the current Supreme Court nominee process. The Guardian has a story that the faith group Amy belongs to, has a history of sexual abuse.

    1. Pity the Grauniad showed-up so late to the party – the Dem’s have been shrieking “HANDMAID’S TALE!!!” at ACB for weeks, pretty well ever since her name was put forward.

  17. The Liberal Party’s CBC is upset this morning that the China virus has slowed immigration. However the Liberals explained to the CBC that they are working hard to bring more Liberal voters from Somalia.

  20. Another voice of reason trying to break through the mainstream media’s overwhelming bias in favour of WuFlu lockdowns:

    “You see it every night on the news: a ticker with the cumulative death toll from the coronavirus. Yet you don’t see the other side of the equation: the number of deaths resulting from the lockdowns imposed ostensibly to fight the coronavirus.

    More and more medical professionals are recognizing the severe damage the lockdowns have caused to present and future public health. A worldwide collection of medical and public health experts has just issued a declaration stating that current “lockdown policies are producing devastating effects on short and long-term public health” and that to keep “these measures in place until a vaccine is available will cause irreparable damage, with the underprivileged disproportionately harmed.”

    https://thefederalist.com/2020/10/21/how-to-show-americans-lockdowns-are-killing-more-people-than-the-virus/

  21. The NDP leader just gave another press conference, and just repeated the same weasel words as yesterday. The Deputy Dictator earlier today hinted that the Liberals have bought off their lapdog NDP members.

    1. Ontario John – the DD may have though the Dippers were bought off but reality is they were never going to vote for an early election as totally broke.

  22. Movie alert! Friday evening, Turner Classic Movies will be showing two of my favourite flicks: The Creature from the Black Lagoon and The Thing From Another World. Both are good fun!

    And, no, neither of them is about Prinz Dummkopf. He’s The Creature Who’s (Sometimes) a Black Buffoon.

    1. Thanks, B A. Setting the PVR and will watch on Halloween. As a teenager, my daughter loved horror movies, especially the classics. Night of the Living Dead was one of her favourites. In 2011 we went to Fan Expo and Russ Streiner (Johnny) was there, just sitting quietly, waiting for people to stop and chat. My daughter was so surprised to see him and was in heaven! He was so pleased that someone so young knew him, loved the movie, and wanted his autograph. One of my favourite photos is of her with Russ.

      1. Night of the Living Dead

        That one was on TCM nearly two weeks ago and I think it might be shown again tomorrow night. It’s the grand-daddy of all zombie movies and it’s definitely worth seeing. Inexplicably, George Romero directed a re-make more than 20 years later and I found it quite disappointing.

        Russ Streiner (Johnny) was there

        “They’re coming to get you, Barbara….” has to be one of the most iconic movie lines ever, alongside “Rosebud” (Citizen Kane) and “The, uh, stuff dreams are made of” (The Maltese Falcon).

        1. Great movies, all. I believe TCM is running Citizen Kane soon as well as All the King’s Men. Lots of political movies in the lead up to November 3rd.

          1. That wouldn’t surprise me. My favourite political movie is The Candidate with Robert Redford. It takes a rather cynical view at election campaigns.

        2. The exterior shots of the Night of the Living Dead were shot at Ellwood City, PA, just north of my boyhood home north of Pittsburgh. Lots of fun, with local personality “Chilly Billy” Cardille doing a cameo.

          1. It was a home-grown movie as Romero also used a lot of local people as extras.

            Apparently Fred Rogers’ TV show was produced in the area at the time and Romero was one of his writers.

          2. TCM is also showing “The Candidate” before the election.

            Pittsburgh is one of my favourite U.S. cities. There is a memorial statue of Fred Rogers on the North Shore. The WWII Memorial, also on the North Shore in Pittsburgh, is sublime; my husband and I were in tears. It takes some time to move around and read it all but it is one of the finest war memorials I’ve ever visited.

  23. True North reports on how Vancouver is cancelling free parking for vets on Remembrance Day. They cite global warming and inequality as there reasons. As our Great Leader has stated, those damn vets are always asking for to much.

  25. All the socialist parties followed Angry Adolf’s orders and supported the government in defeating the Conservative motion. The Greens and even Big Chief Jody joined the NDP lapdogs. Meanwhile Angry Adolf got really angry in Question Period when one of his lapdog NDP members accused him of not doing enough to fight global warming. An Angry Adolf ranted that global warming scams are a top priority during this pandemic.

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